Christmas Country Church Tour 2012

With 22 participating churches this year, it's nearly impossible to visit every place during the hours of the tour. Among those churches that I was able to visit on Friday, here's how I would rate them:

• Friendliest tour stop: First Baptist Church, Oak Ridge. This is an easy choice.

• Best food: Caney Fork Baptist Church. Most churches had cookies and candies, but this congregation was serving a meal with chili, nachos, and more.

• Best nativity: Caney Fork Baptist Church. Who doesn't like to pet a camel?

• Most authentic 1800s experience: Apple Creek Presbyterian Church, Pocahontas. No electricity? No problem!

• Best Christmas tree: Peace Lutheran Church, Friedenberg. It must have been an ordeal to move their massive cedar tree into the sanctuary.

• Most interesting architecture: Trinity Lutheran Church, Friedheim. This 1857 stone church features a unique castle-like steeple.

I tried to visit several churches that I didn't see last year, although I still haven't made it to every tour stop. Below are photos of those churches that I reached for the first time this year.

A tour bus? This is getting serious:

Live nativity featuring Cosmo the Camel:

Stained glass windows:

Front entrance at sunset:

Exterior of this castle-like stone church:

Interior view:

Exterior view:

Altar:

Front entrance of this 1885 church:

Large cedar Christmas tree:

Altar:

Curved balcony and pressed-tin ceilings:

Interior of this church, dedicated in 1876:

Ceiling:

Exterior of this 1914 brick church:

Interior: