Maxton's 'Chapel of Hope'
Somewhere between his retirement as a funeral director of 40 years in Du Quoin and his passing in September 2014 it was Frank Maxton's hope that a family would someday live in his home on South Hickory Street and that the chapel there would become a church.
Both of those dreams have come to pass. Daughter Lori Ann Williams and husband Steve live there now, and in recent weeks the funeral chapel has seen an afterlife as the "Chapel of Hope" a place of worship for friends who were once members of the First United Presbyterian Church on North Washington Street in Du Quoin.
Maybe it's Divine Providence that Luana Maxton, granddaughter of Presbyterian pastor Rev. William Maxton, who served the church for 37 years, has found a new place to regularly hold service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. It's at the same time as service across the street at St. John's United Church of Christ so their church bell serves to summon all churchgoers to the neighborhood.
Luana Maxton, Jane Spain and Betty Robson sat down Thursday morning at a table in the chapel, surrounded by meaningful keepsakes of their old church and of the Maxton family.
Just inside the front door is Rev. Maxton's top hat with of photo of the reverend and his five sons. At the front of the chapel are the brass cross and candelabra with Rev. Maxton's name engraved on them. There are a few things from the church that are more important to the friends of the church than to the Presbytery that now owns the closed building. As a side note, it was actually the cost of the maintenance agreement on the church's elevator that was part of the reason for the closure.
The last church service in the Presbyterian church was held in April and after that members traveled together from church to church trying to find a comfortable fit for their faith. And, they admit to attending some great churches and hearing great pastors.
Then, Frank Maxton's daughter Lori and husband Steve broached the idea of abandoning plans for a family room or
man cave" in the chapel and offering it to Luana and friends. "I took the ball and ran with it," Luana says.
A piano and lecturn have been donated. So have American and Christian flags. Luana has purchased new ceiling lighting which will shine down on the seating rather than up on the ceiling. The ceiling will be sealed and repainted in the coming weeks.
Lola Bigham has been playing the piano for the service. They haven't quite figured out the sound system, but they will. There is an organ in the chapel, as well.
"We have had a lot of things donated," said Luana.
On a shelf on the front wall is Luana's FROG (Forever Relay on God), a personal touch that both humanizes the chapel and keeps worshipers focused on why they are there.
The future of the Presbyterian Church building is uncertain. The Du Quoin Public Library has become the repository for most of the church records.
Anyone with a true Christian faith finds a way and for these great people they've found it in their Chapel of Hope.