As of July 1, 2022, US Census data counted 38,572 households in Limestone County, consisting of nearly 111,000 people of an increasing diversity of races and beliefs. But with the earliest settlers in Limestone coming from the faiths of Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and later, Episcopalians, Catholics and Lutherans, the religious makeup of the county continues these trends today, with dozens of churches serving the county, and even several non-Christian places of worship as close as Madison County.
The most recent research, coming from bestplaces.net, suggests that nearly 55 percent of the people in Limestone consider themselves to be religious, and that those religions can be broken down by population percentage:
– Baptist: 30%.
– Another Christian faith: 12.6%.
– Methodist: 5.8%.
– Catholic: 3.1%.
– Church of Jesus Christ: 0.8%.
– Eastern faith: 0.8%.
– Pentecostal: 0.7%.
– Presbyterian: 0.7%.
– Lutheran: 0.2%.
– Episcopalian: 0.1%.
– Judaism: 0%.
– Affiliates with Islam: 0%.
The churches that minister to these religions range from traditional worship services to more contemporary services, and most are deeply rooted in the community through faith and community service.
Many offer outreach programs, and nearly 50 Limestone churches have banded to form Limestone County Churches Involved, which, according to the organization is a “mission to mobilize the churches of Limestone County to form lives in the name of Jesus Christ by providing a prayerful and organize approach to meeting the physical needs of individuals in our community.”
Curent partnering LCCI churches include:
– Apostolic Christian
– Athens Church of God.
– Baptist Discovery Church.
– Baptist Midway Baptist.
– Belle Mina UMC.
– Blackburn Baptist.
– Capshaw Baptist.
– Central Church of Christ.
– Clements Baptist.
– Copeland Presbyterian.
– Cultivate Free Will.
– Elkmont Baptist.
– Elkmont UMC.
– Emmanuel Baptist.
– Fairview Baptist Church.
– First Baptist, Athens.
– First Christian, Athens.
– First Presbyterian, Athens.
– First UMC, Athens.
– Ford’s Chapel UMC.
– Friendship UMC.
– Grove Baptist.
– Isom’s Chapel UMC.
– Lakeview UMC.
– Limestone Baptist Association.
– Lindsay Lane Baptist.
– Little Elk Missionary Baptist.
– Little Zion Missionary.
– New Life Assembly of God.
– New Life Baptist.
– Parker Chapel UMC.
– Pettusville UMC.
– Poplar Creek Baptist.
– Riddles Chapel UMC.
– Saint Paul Catholic.
– Saint Timothy Episcopal.
– Salem Springs Baptist.
– Salem UMC.
– Sardis Springs Baptist.
– Seven Mile Post Road COC.
– Seventh Day Adventist.
– Shanghai First Baptist.
– Tanner First Baptist.
– Tanner UMC.
– The Bridge at Valley.
– Trinity Seventh Day Adventist.
– Walnut Grove Community.
– West Highland Baptist.
Additionally, several local businesses such as Hometown Market, Publix, Panera Bread and Steelcase also partner with the organization, especially in the area of LCCI’s food pantry and other emergency assistance.
The physical address of the organization is 201 N. Jefferson St., Athens, and those who may need its services, or wish to volunteer or offer assistance, can call (256)-262-0671 or visit limestonechurchesinvolved.org.
Other outreach services of some of the county’s faith community include education. Among those are Lindsay Lane Christian Academy (https://www.lindsaylanechristianacademy.org/), Athens Bible School (https://athensbible.com/), Limestone Christian Academy (www.athenslca.com/) and one of the county’s newest schools, St. Paul Catholic School (https://www.stpaulathens.org/st-paul-school) which will register pre-K3, pre-K4 and kindergarten children for the 2024-25 school year following an open house on March 4, 2024.