Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
Note: On Thursday, September 2nd, there will be no Thursday Doors challenge. On Sunday, September 5th, there will be no recap. In the United States, this will be Labor Day Weekend.
As has been the case for the past two week, I am offering mostly drive-by doors. I found these churches as we were getting ready to begin our trip back to Connecticut. I don’t have a lot of information about these churches, but I like the architecture and I like the doors.
One church, the St. Paul AME Zion Church of Coraopolis, was interesting to me. Its construction is non-traditional for a church. As you can see in the photos that it’s the least elaborate of the churches included in the gallery. There is an interesting story about this building, but it proved difficult to verify. One entry in the Historical Society’s data mentions that the pastor of the congregation tore the old structure down and began building the new church himself. Other member pitched in and the church was completed. I don’t know what happened to the bell tower shown in the historic photo.
The First Presbyterian Church of Coraopolis was the second church constructed in the area. It was dedicated in 1890. I found some limited history about this church, but mostly records of the priests that served there.
I hope you enjoy the photos in the gallery.
If you are in a hurry and don’t wish to scroll through the comments, click to Jump to the comment form.
[…] Thursday Doors […]
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[…] Posted for Dan’s Thursday Doors […]
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Red doors are always a winner :)
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/thursday-doors-glasgow-2/
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There is something special about a red door.
You shared a very handsome door with us, and I like the story.
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[…] https://nofacilities.com/2021/08/19/a-few-pittsburgh-churches/ […]
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Difficult to see but there is a door in there somewhere: https://theartblogger54.wordpress.com/2021/05/15/street-art-by-hunto-6/
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I found it! That’s cool.
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“Drive by shooting” has a different connotation… Churches are always a good bet for impressive portals. I am still in Berwick. https://drprunesquallor279704606.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/thursday-doors-berwick8/
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Yes, I was going to use that expression in the title, but I thought better of it.
If you’re not tired of Pittsburgh, I’m not tired of Berwick. You have some nice doors, an amazing window and some great puns!
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Interesting story!
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I’m glad you like it. Thanks!
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Great doors. And I got the email. Stopping following and singing on again seems to work.
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Yay! I’m glad you’re getting the notifications again. Unfortunately, others have tried and found that, too, can be temporary. These gremlins are nasty.
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Ahhh, my neck of the woods! Your doors are always a pleasure to see on Thursdays, Dan.
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It was our first time back since 2019. We weren’t in the city very long, but we crammed a lot in. We even saw the Pirates win a game – how’s that for good timing?
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A Pirates win? That’s what I call perfect timing!
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The opening game of the series with the Phillies. Pirates won 7-0
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Wow. Great game.
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Nice collection of churches, doors, windows and brick and stonework. That was quite a drive-through you took us on. I like the story about the pastor who rolled up his sleeves and started to rebuild the new church himself! Now that’s perseverance!
Ginger
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From what I gather, there were at least two groups fighting over what to build. He started tearing down the old building after services and started building. I’d love to know the whole story. I could see my dad taking that approach, Ginger.
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I love all the contrasts here, especially the one between the Presbyterian and St. Paul’s AME. The big and the small of it can both be eloquent, and churches are proof.
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Exactly – “wherever two or three are gathered” – seems to hold true. These were all lining the street from where I filled up with gas back to our hotel. I was amazed (and there are others I didn’t have time to capture, but I’ll be back).
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Good!
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[…] weekly photography challenge Thursday Doors, hosted by Dan Antion who blogs at No Facilities. Click here to join hundreds of other participants with your Thursday […]
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Yes to the Presby church with the red side door. My kind of people!
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I take that sign to mean that they know their audience well, and they understand their mission. I like that.
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[…] Enjoy the Trek Shop for Dan’s Thursday Doors. […]
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It is hard to pick a favorite – door wise and architecture-wise.
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I’ve almost given up trying, GP, Mine and others. We tend to find so many beautiful doors. I am drawn to the doors, but I think I appreciate the architecture more.
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Agreed!
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Old church buildings always have so much character. They were built with eternity in view, and meant to last a long time.
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Even the little AME Zion church was built to last. Unfortunately, I’ve read that it is closed. I hope that doesn’t last.
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[…] this just in: I had another look at why I didn’t get the notification for Dan’s Thursday Doors post and realised that I had been removed from his followers! (Last week I was still on the list, I […]
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[…] A compilation of some white entry doors for Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge […]
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I checked again to see why your post wasn’t either in my mail or in Reader and saw that I’m not your follower any more!! (Last week I was still one, I checked.) It happened with at least four other blogs.
I like your churches, the bricks and all. A funny thing happens when I look the photos in the gallery: after the photo No. 16 comes the caption for the photo No. 17 (“Areal image of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church”) but the photo is not displayed.
My post is from a recent trip with dad to his city of birth which is full of beauty and wonder, this castle is just one of them. I had to make it up for beating him at the tournament. :D
https://manjameximexcessive6.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/thursday-doors-19-8-21-betnava-maribor/
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You’re a good daughter. I don’t know what is wrong with that image in the gallery. I guess I’ll add it to the list of WordPress Gallery problems. Most churches in Pittsburgh are brick. I was happy to find the stone one on this trip. Regardless, I like them all.
Your photos are fantastic (as always). Thanks for finding me and continuing to support this challenge.
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I like your red church doors, Dan! Here is mine for this week!
https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2021/08/19/white-entryway/
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Thanks Teresa. I love your doors. The red doors are always nice.
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I know, right? Red doors always stand out!
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A 30-minute ‘casual’ service. I can almost hear the Catholic Church having a meltdown. 😈 The Zion church–sometimes simplicity is perfection.
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Hahaha – I had a similar thought. Lois. It probably was a welcome service during the past year. The pastor of the AME Zion church appears to have been putting an end to endless squabbling over what to build. He just built it.
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It’s quite interesting about the ST Paul’s bell tower, Dan. Maybe they did replace the roof and a bell tower was considered unnecessary. A lovely selection of pictures. I won’t be joining this week as we are going away this evening so I won’t be around until Tuesday next week.
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Thanks for the visit Robbie. I wish I could find more about that church. I find the story so interesting. I hope you have a nice trip!
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[…] For more doors, visit Dan’s site No Facilities https://nofacilities.com/2021/08/19/a-few-pittsburgh-churches/ […]
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Beautiful and fascinating!
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I’m glad you like these.
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Very much!!
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Celebrate the day, enjoy visiting all the wonderful doors you will find on this site.. here are mine https://dymoonblog.com/2021/08/19/thursday-doors-67/
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Thanks!
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Hi Dan – lots of history in the historic city … so I guess no wonder there were a few churches and no doubt more in the suburbs. Interesting to see … cheers Hilary
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I was surprised, Hilary to see so many churches in this area. This is a smallish suburb of the city. People take (or used to take) their religion seriously. As soon as they could support it, they built a church of their own.
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[…] https://nofacilities.com/2021/08/19/a-few-pittsburgh-churches/ […]
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I have some churches this week too. Love that red brick on anything.
When I think of Pittsburgh this is not what comes to mind. I need to go see🙂. Thanks for sharing. Good post!
Pat
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Thanks Pat. One more week of Pittsburgh doors and then it’s back to Hartford. I liked your churches, but I liked the white entrance even more!
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Terrific photos, Dan. I liked that you took a photo of the Presbyterian church from a similar reference as the postcard. The red doors were a nice touch.
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Thanks John. I hadn’t seen the postcard, but I took so many pictures of that church – it’s massive! I was going to try to add an explanation for the fact that Coraopolis is pronounced as if it’s Cory-opolis but you’d have to be familiar with Pittsburgh to believe that. The GPS certainly doesn’t get it ;-)
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Hahaha. I love some of the Pittsburgh pronunciations. 😊
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Beautiful doors, Dan. I like the round arch shapes of St Joseph’s. That seems unusual for a church. The brick details are lovely too. Have a wonderful rest of the week. I hope the weather improves soon. You’re going to need hip-waders to go outside at this rate. Hugs on the wing.
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Thanks Teagan. We had over 3 1/2″ of rain in less than three hours this morning. We might soon need an ark.
Brick is abundant in Pittsburgh. I really like what they did with it.
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Love that Presbyterian church! All the little bits and bobs. I have the first of the new archaeologist pictures this week: https://marianallen.com/2021/08/frienddoors-hopkinsville-kentucky-thursdaydoors/
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That church goes no forever! I assume they added on, maybe several times, but it’s blended together so well.
Your doors are very nice, and I love the captions.
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Wonderful church doors!
Here’s my post for the week: https://nofixedplans55.blogspot.com/2021/08/thursday-doors-old-world-wisconsin.html
Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!
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Thanks, and thanks for sharing yours.
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The Zion church is lovely. I love the windows, and the stone.
The others are gorgeous with the brick and their splendor. I do love the arches and red doors on Presbyterian churches. Nice drive by set, Dan!
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Thanks Deborah. I wish I could find the whole story behind the AME Zion church. It sounds like it would be interesting to read.
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[…] out from the rest. The Family stopped to take a photo. Strangely, the paint was peeling from the doors and windows. It had the odd appearance of being simultaneously unfinished and […]
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Interesting story; not many church buildings shrink over the years.
https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/other-homes/
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[…] has lots of interesting international Thursday Doors over on his blog this week and if you like what you’ve seen of Bonamargy Friary, I’ve […]
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All nice buildings, but I really like the church with the cross on top. Not many churches have that as the highest point. You’ll see I change my blog background again, but somehow I got the feeling that people were not able to navigate on my blog for the door or weekly post. on this theme it’s much clearer. Thanks for hosting!
https://livingbetweentworealms.wordpress.com/2021/08/16/dans-thursday-doors-aug-16
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All very well preserved and all so different. My offering this week isn’t in such good condition but I think when you see how old it is you’ll forgive it. https://jeanreinhardt.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/thursday-doors-bonamargy-friary/
Thanks for hosting, Dan.
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A wonderful collection of churches, Dan. I was a minister’s daughter and spent a great deal of time in churches as a child and young person. When I had reached a level of proficiency in the pianoforte, I played as the choir and attendees sang. Those are wonderful memories for me because is was about communities brought together with music. I miss my father now that he has passed some years ago, but the sound of him singing Amazing Grace is still with me.
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That is my favorite hymn. We were just at a memorial service. It was in a small Methodist church, like I grew up in. It was hot, so the minister said “we’ll sing verses 1,2,3 and 5” – of course I felt cheated.
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I am always impressed when someone has an idea or a dream and refuses to except that it cannot be fulfilled. They simply do work and get it done. Impressive.
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🙂
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[…] My entry for Thursday Doors […]
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I like a red door.
https://linsdoodles.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/seaton-delaval-hall-doors/
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Red doors are always appreciated. Churches are a good place to find them.
I like the doors you shared with us today.
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Love the old church postcards. Some of them came up at our church’s 150th celebration. Cool to see the differences over the years.
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I am always happy when I can find old postcards or advertisements. It gives some additional context to the history.
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[…] you have time this week to visit other door posts. Just click here and it will take you to Dan’s at No Facilities. He gives directions to find everyone. Hope you gave a great […]
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[…] Thursday Doors […]
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I love church doors!
Here’s mine.. https://marlaonthemove.com/2021/08/19/thursday-doors-provins/
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I thought I found some old churches (100 years plus a little) but you erased that idea. I love the church you shared with us. Welcome back to Thursday Doors !
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Thanks Dan.. both for your comment and for taking the reigns for this fun weekly event. And I know exactly what you mean.. what we think is old here in NA is basically in primary school when held up in comparison to places in Europe. 😆
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That’s a good way of putting it 🙂
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All beautiful Dan. I’m beginning to wonder, though, after seeing many doors and even photographing quite a few. Do you know what the significance of the red door might be?
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I tried to answer that question a few years ago, Cheryl. There doesn’t seem to be a definitive answer. Some suggest red doors stand for the Blood of Christ. Others suggest that during warfare, red doors signified a place os sanctuary. Many churches throughout history (with red doors of course) are said to have provided medical care to soldiers, regardless of what side they were fighting on. Still others suggest that doors were painted red while the congregation was still paying off construction loans and then painted black once the church had been paid for, Take your pick 😊
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I think maybe I like Dan Brown’s suggestion as posited by his hero Robert Langdon in The DaVinci code that red symbolized the feminine energy which is why, during the renaissance so many paintings depicted the virgin Mary and Magdalene in red robes, rather than the blue we have come to recognize as familiar. 🤷♀️
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As you say, great architecture and doors. There are a great many churches that look similar to the Presbyterian church in your post in England, probably from a similar period.
My third offering of Lyme Regis doors: https://scooj.org/2021/08/19/thursday-doors-19-august-2021/
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[…] in the gallery to see it in full view and use the arrow to move to the next image. Sharing for #ThursdayDoors and […]
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I like the stonework and the architecture. Red doors always stand out although the white doors are nice, too.
Here’s my entry: https://natalietheexplorer.home.blog/2021/08/20/laneway-art-and-recent-reads/
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I love doors, but I am attracted to the architecture more than the door.
Thanks for sharing some fun and colorful doors with us as part of your wonderful Weekend Coffee Share – Folks, if you haven’t checked that out, you definitely should!
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I’m usually attracted to the architecture, too. Thank you, Dan, for the extra mention.
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Love your wonderful garage doors, I just don’t know where to put my comment…so I’m putting it here.
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I’m glad you like the garage doors, Teresa. I have more to share next week. I hope you can leave comments on my blog.
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👍🏼
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I like the building of the St. Paul Zion Church because it looks like a LEGO construction, and quite whimsy – all those tiny blocks and all identical, yet placed in such a way that they create a design.
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From what I could gather, it was built fairly quickly. I do like the way it looks.
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Not many doors here but I thought you might like it. https://www.theplatinumline.blog/discovering-blaise-castle-estate-bristol/
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Beautiful photos, Dan. Whenever I travel, I always check out the churches. They all have a story to tell that fascinates me. Have a wonderful weekend. 😊
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Thanks Gwen. Churches grew as the communities grew. They do have a story. I wish I knew more about the AME Zion church. A friend pointed me to a book that might have more information. I think I’m going to look for it.
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Churches have the best doors! These photos are lovely, Dan. The Presbyterian church is beautiful. You did a super job at figuring out the Zion church with old and new photos.
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https://onemillionphotographs.com/2021/08/23/38574-thursday-doors-and-monday-windows-in-santa-fe-new-mexico/
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pretty churches.
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Thanks.
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You just can’t beat old churches when it comes to capturing beautiful doors. I never get tired of that pop of red amid the stonework. Good pics, Dan.
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Thanks Paul. Churches really are fertile ground for red doors.
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