Old churches?

[jerkyboy]

Would you need to get permission to detect at churches or are they considered public property? I just got my new DFX and know of a couple pretty old churches nearby but wasnt sure if i could just start detecting around them without permission. Have to wait for the weather to warm up a little here in ct. anyway!! Its a littlle frustrating!!.New detector inside frozen ground outside, bad combonation, Maybe i should go get me a big chissel.

 

[lordmarcovan]

In my younger and dumber days, I figured churches were public (or semi-public), and therefore fair game, so I hunted them freely, without asking permission.

A few people had to correct that particular delusion of mine. A couple of times, I got thrown out with some rather unchurchlike language, too.

You should always get permission at churches. ESPECIALLY the ones where the churchyard doubles as a cemetery.

However, if you can cross that hurdle, they are often fantastic places to hunt. Lots and lots of great old coins ended up in the churchyard instead of the collection plate!

PS- one of my most interesting finds came out of an old churchyard that I got permission to hunt.

Oh, yeah- I can sympathize about you going stir crazy with the frozen ground outside. When I got my first detector, it was snowy and frozen out. Now I live in a slightly warmer climate zone. It hasn't snowed where I live for about 20 years.

 

[jackintexas]

You should by all means get permission to hunt churches. I have hunted several. I always asked the preacher or whoever was in charge. I was never turned down. Always be very neat with your digging.....Jack

 

[beebiz]

I agree that getting permission from a church before hunting is a must. Churches are definitely not public property! They are private property and are owned by the members of the church. And if you do get permission, make darn sure that when you leave, you leave the property as close to the condition you found it as you possibly can!

There is an old church that is about a mile from my house. The building was built on the property around 1899 or 1900. But, they had services there for some time before the building was built. At first, I didn't know how old the church was, but could tell by looking at it and the dates on some of the headstones in the adjacent cemetery that it was probably a turn of the century church. I figured it to be prime TH ground! And, since it appeared that regularly scheduled services were no longer held there, I figured I could easily get permission to hunt.

It was somewhat of a lengthy process finding out who I needed to contact about the church. But, I did it. I learned that the treasurer for the church was a elderly lady who lives in a small town about 5 or 6 miles from me. When I called her and explained what I wanted, she told me that she would have to get in touch with the rest of the members and find out what the general consensus was. She promised to call me back when she had an answer.

About 4 weeks later, she called me back. She said that the general consensus of the members was that they didn't want anyone trespassing for any reason other than to visit the graves of family members buried in the cemetery. Here's why.... She said that a few years back a church member saw a man who was metal detecting on the church grounds. Thinking that no harm was being done, the member said nothing. A few days later, another member went to the church for something and was horrified at what he found. There were holes that had been dug all over the church yard. He said that the holes ranged in size from about 3 inches in diameter to over 12 inches in diameter... and none of them covered up!!

Since the property had already been hunted, I don't know what my chances would have been of finding anything of any value. But, thanks to the actions of one uncaring, ignorant,a$$hole, I was denied permission to hunt the property. And, I'm sure the same will hold true for any other would be THers for as long as there is one of the church members living!

Good luck,
Robert

 

[JB(MS)]

Most of my oldest coins, and a few nice Civil War relics, were found at old church sites where the buidlings had either been torn down or moved. A highway reconstruction project was started during the depression in the early 1930's and with few exceptions the new roads built didn't follow the older roads. A lot of the churches were either moved to the new roads, or torn down and rebuilt near them. Finding historical church sites can be time consuming but also very productive. I've only hunted around two churches that are still in use and permission was easily obtained, but they were both country churches that didn't have fancy landscaped surroundings. The photo is a sattellite shot of the most productive old church site we've hunted thus far The red square is where the building sat from 1849 until 1938. The white outline is around the cemetery. We never hunt inside cemeteries. Most of the best finds were in the woods south of the church site and cemetery and included seated coins and Civil War relics.
<center>[attachment 78747 churchsite.jpg]</center>

 

[jerkyboy]

Thanks for all the info guys! I really dont think i would have felt right about detecting a churchyard without permission, so i guess i kind of already knew the answer. I did a little research and know of two places where there were once churches that were moved but im having a hard time finding out where the original location was. Theres one area i found that was once a bustling little mill town near a river but a big fire wiped out the curch and the town and instead of rebuilding there they moved to a spot a few miles down river. Im just not sure of the exact area of where everything would have been, Its mostly state forest and farmland now wit a couple of homes mixed in.Im gonna have to take a trip to the library and see if i can come up with some leads, maybe an old map or somethig.

 

[jmaryt]

the smart play is to ask permission as churches ARE private property!..a tip would be if it is a protestent church,then the parsonage,or minister's house SHOULD be nearby,and once located.ask to detect,and volunteer to give any church related relics to the church when found!..this is just a fair,and a nice thing to do,and generally will get you pwrmission to hunt the property!..good luck!

(h,h!)
j.t.

 

[jmaryt]

you got that right!..a$$hole..indifference!..apathetic!..screw everybody..we got 'em in this hobby for sure!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[GRAY GHOST]

churches are like any other piece of land that you dont own...get permission first. the couple of older churches ive detected had one thing in common- i found relics,coins and jewelry there- the whole spectrum of good finds. to this day, churches are landmarks and meeting places that many people of all walks of life go to in times of good or bad. during the revolutionary and civil wars, troops would often camp around churches[especially if theres a creek nearby]and the officers would make a nearby house their headquarters. so you just dont know what youll come up with by hunting a churchyard - until you dig it up!!! i hope the good people up north who are unfortunately ice and snowbound will do some research on the churches in their areas, because there are some seriously old churches there [1700s and older] it is enough to make me want to come up there, snow or no snow!!! i can just imagine whats in the ground there...hh,

 

[Cal_Cobra]

I'm curious, when you ask permission to search a church lot, what do you say to the church folks ?

Thanks,
Cal

 

[tabdog]

Depends on the denomination and size. Also if it is being used or not.

A large church will have an office.

Some smaller churches have the paster living near the church.

Some times you have to ask the care takers or grounds keepers.

You may be able to look up a registry for your state or county on the internet. It will give the responsible party or parties.

Not a single answer for your question.

HH,

 

[lordmarcovan]

That's the problem with finding permission to hunt at churches- it is often difficult to ascertain who to ask, and sometimes you have to deal with a committee.

But if you can get permission, lots of old churches are very worthwhile places to hunt!

 

[tabdog]

Your right, when they end up more or less abandoned a society or committee will assume responsibility.

There is also a national register for all cemeteries. I can't remember what it's called. I had to deal with them years a go when a I discovered a cemetery on a clients property. The client wanted to develop the property. I think he wanted to hide the fact that a cemetery was on his property.

I took an oath and swore to protect the rights of the public. Ethically I had to report the cemetery. That made my client irate with me.

He wasn't the first client I lost. At least I held on to some integrity, professionally anyway. I had respect but little money.:|

HH,

 

[gotreasurehunting]

A lot of other treasure hunters I know operate under the saying "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission". I don't follow this myself, though. I think you should always ask permission first. It's usually the best policy.

 

[jmaryt]

believe it!..this is where it all started,and many churches served a dual purpose,in that they were also a meeting house when the towns were first settled!
i have found many nice relics,and many old dropped coins over the years at new england churches!..generally,the absence of trash itwms is a plus when hunting them!

(h.h!)
j.t.