Though it had never been a rich church, it had been old and influential. Most of that changed after Julia Strange died
on the altar. She’d been married in the church; her son was baptized there. Most of the congregation
never got past her death or the desecration of their church. The few who persevered insisted on
moving to a new location. Elizabeth’s father fought the idea, and her mother, in the end, forced the
issue: How can we pray where one of our own died alone and in fear? How can we christen our
children? Marry our young people? Her impassioned pleas swayed even her husband, who broke, it
was said, with exceptional grace. What followed was a clapboard structure on a skinny lot in a
dangerous part of town. The church continued as best it could, but only a fraction of the congregation
made the move. Most drifted off to join First Baptist or United Methodist or some other church. Liz’s
life changed after that.
Most of the congregation never got past her death mean?
Her impassioned pleas swayed even her husband, who broke, i was said, with exceptional grace mean?
What followed was a clapboard structure on a skinny lot in a dangerous part of town mean?
Most drifted off to join First Baptist or United Methodist or some other church. Liz’s life changed after that.
mean?