Here's the Church; Here's the Steeple...

...Drive down the road and see all the people.
OK...so that's NOT the original version but you'll understand in a moment. :)

For the last year I have had a project in the back of my mind that I have really been wanting to do. I find the wide diversity wonderfully amazing. Just like any neighborhood, we have churches. BUT down the 3.6 miles of the main road outside my neighborhood, there are 17 – yes, SEVENTEEN churches – and not one of them is the same denomination. That's one church every 2/10 of a mile. Side by side, these 17 churches have existed for years. No conflicts. No racism. No anomosity. Just peace. Someone needs to tell the MSM.

The project I have been wanting to do is take pictures of all the churches. This afternoon I finally started it. I took pictures of all the churches on the East side of the street. I kept watching for a police car over my shoulder because for some reason. I guess it's just a sign of the times that taking pictures of churches could be construed as an illegal and threatening activity. Bah humbug!

First up is Forty Holy Martyrs Orthodox Christian Church. A beautiful church with wonderful domes and arches.

Next we have First Presbyterian Church.

Next door is the Church of Latter Day Saints.

There's a stretch of neighborhood before we come to the church on the East side, The Fort Bend Church. It's the newest and the largest. On Sundays, they have hired a trolley to bring their members from the parking lot and side streets to the building. Maybe they need to build a parking garage next. :P

Past the park we come to a VERY diverse section. Here is Masjid-Attaqwa, an Islamic temple and Islamic "education center" and even a Shifa clinic. Guess it's like a one-stop-shop for all your Islamic needs. :P  I was REALLY nervous taking pictures here. I would have loved to get closer but I didn't want to alarm anyone.

Immediately next door is a very unique building...Chinmaya Prabha. It's a Hindu church. I wish I could have gotten a better picture. The building is raised with a bank of plate-glass windows on the other side that overlooks a huge courtyard. They hang colorful garland inside along the windows during celebrations.

The last church on the east side is what I believe is a South Vietnamese church. They have a huge garden that they tend inside their security fence. 

Isn't this cool!?!? And this is just the East side! Wait until I get pictures of the West side of the street.

UPDATE: Here's Part 2 and Part 3