There's a Church in the Valley

There's a church in the valley by the wildwood, 

No lovelier spot in the dale;

No place is so dear to my childhood

As the little white church in the vale.

Refrain:

Come to the church in the wildwood,

Oh, come to the church in the vale;

No spot is so dear to my childhood

As the little white church in the vale

Oh, come to the church in the wildwood,

I was blessed in this little white church in the Valley, as well as all of my brothers and sisters. We were all baptized in the baptismal fount in the basement of the building. My father’s funeral was held there when I was 10 years old--my oldest sister was barely 18 years old and my youngest sister barely one. Eight children in all left in the care of our assiduous mother.

A new brick standardized church replaced this distinctive church house. Cherished childhood memories flow back to this marvelous Little White Church in the Valley. During the week, while at Primary or Mutual, we would unlock a window in the classroom nearest the fire escape. Then on the July 4th and 24th eves, we would enter the building, go to the bellfry and ring the bell loud and long at midnight. The girls would all sleep together on someone's lawn and the boys somewhere else. Sometimes they beat us to the bellfry but not often. LaVon, who owned a motel across the street, claimed her tourists did not like to be awakened by the noise. She caught us once or twice and scolded us good. Just a little childhood tradition in the Little White Church in the Valley. By the way, it was a bit of a jump from the last rung on the fire escape to the ground. That's where bravery came in.