Submitted Photo This church has recently been featured in the internationally published magazine, Country Extra.

NORTH HARMONY — A Chautauqua County country church, sitting quietly, now abandoned, has recently been featured in the internationally published magazine, Country Extra.

Judy Wroda, a local photographer and author, submitted the story and photos of the church, which is located on Open Meadows Road, in hopes of sharing a piece of Chautauqua County history with others around the world.

Wroda states that there were many things that intrigued her about the country church, but the one thing that kept her interest alive was that it was a building that brought a community together so many years ago. She states she can sit in the old shelter area and just imagine all of the people pulling together, no bulldozers or big machinery to assist them — just sheer manpower and their hopes and prayers to have a church of their own fueling the builders’ dream of Ebenezer.

Wroda states that another factor in her interest in this particular church was the families who built it, who still live in the Open Meadows area and who, up until Christmas of 2018, still walked through the original narrow wooden doors to enter the sanctuary.

Wroda notes that “there are so many stories in this one building — this building that was built by work weary hands who had spent the day in the fields, cultivating the area, raising families and bringing the area to life.”

Ebenezer, the stone of help, stands as a silent remembrance of eras gone by, and though now silent and resolute, still strong in stature and comfort to those she sheds her shadow upon.

Wroda also had a photo of the old Stedman Grange in Stedman published a month earlier in Country magazine — showcasing the simple beauty of winter against another relic in Chautauqua County.

The church building is in the town of North Harmony about 5 miles from Chautauqua Institution, one mile from Exit 7 off of I-86. Ramsey Road is the cross road to Open Meadows Road, where the church stands so quietly.

If you would like to purchase these magazines that feature this local author and photographer, or purchase the 2019 book (sunflowers on the front) with several of her Chautauqua County photos featured in it and on the back cover, you can do so by purchasing online at www.shoptasteofhome.com.