For a number of years now I’ve had this romance with old churches. Wherever we travel I enjoy seeing them, and if possible just walking through to take a closer look. It’s fascinating to imagine all that happened inside those walls throughout its history. Perhaps this romance began in high school during my first visit to Europe. No matter which village or town you go to there’s a church of some sort. I guess it could also have something to do with me being a former pastor, but I think it’s deeper than that. There’s a real connection with these old buildings of faith. So much so that I’d love to buy one and convert it to a home.

Whenever I walk into an old church there’s an instant connection deep within my soul. It sort of draws me in and envelopes my spirit – it’s hard to explain. I can feel it even when the building has been repurposed and is no longer being used for public worship. As mystical as this sounds, it’s as if there are spiritual remnants left behind that begin to minister to me from the moment I walk into the space. This past weekend Jacque and I celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary at a bed & breakfast in Liberty MO — a bed & breakfast that’s in an old church.

From the moment we pulled up in front of the old building (the cornerstone says 1847) I knew it was going to be a special place. When we opened the heavy, solid-oak doors I could see through the foyer, down the center aisle to the front of what used to be the sanctuary of a neighborhood Catholic church. As we stepped across the threshold I turned to Jacque and we “wowed” in unison. I’ll admit that part of that was due to the romanticized notion I’ve created in my mind, but most people would agree that there’s just something about an old church. And there’s something special about The Steeple Inn.

The two guys who own and operate this B&B have only been open for business for a few months but you can easily see their vision coming to life. The overall vibe of the place is serene and peaceful as you’d expect, the breakfast presentation matched the setting and was very tasty. In addition they offer massage services in the lower level of the old church. A great weekend that just fueled my desire to buy an old church. Who knows what might happen.