First Church of Shadewood Hollow

Founded: 1804 | Founder: The Founding Families of Shadewood Hollow

Caretaker: Reverend Amos Gree

Type: Place of Worship

Notable Figures

Preacher Matthew Hargrave (The Weeping Reverend): The first preacher of the church, known for his tearful sermons. He disappeared into the woods one morning.
Reverend Daniel Grant (The Rebel Preacher): A preacher whose fiery sermons challenged Monaghan's rule. His calls for justice ended with him being dragged away by Monaghan’s men. His body was never found.
Reverend Amos Green (Current Caretaker): A preacher known for his quiet but powerful sermons. His words carry a double meaning for those willing to hear it. On Sundays, he preaches patience and faith. On weekdays, his message of "standing strong" resonates with the miners' cause.
Eleanor "Nellie" Daws: The labor organizer uses the church as a meeting place for miners. It’s one of the few places Monaghan's enforcers won’t follow.

Overview

The Church of Shadewood Hollow has stood since 1804, its leaning steeple a crooked sentinel watching over the town. Built by the founding families, it has been a sanctuary for the broken, a battleground for the bold, and a silent witness to every sin and secret. More than just a house of worship, it’s a place where miners pray for safe shifts, widows light candles for the dead, and rebels whisper quiet plans. Some seek salvation within its walls.

The church’s first preacher, Matthew Hargrave, earned the name "The Weeping Reverend" for the tears that often blurred his eyes. One morning, they say he walked into the woods, never to return, but some claim they’ve seen him standing by the treeline, hands folded in silent judgment.

Then came Reverend Daniel Grant, a preacher with a voice like a forge hammer. He preached rebellion from the pulpit, calling out Monaghan’s grip on the miners, urging them to demand justice. He spoke too loud, too often, and one night, Monaghan’s men dragged him from his room behind the church. They found his Bible in the mud but never found his body. Some say his voice still echoes on foggy nights, a preacher without a pulpit.

Today, Reverend Amos Green stands at the altar, but he preaches with caution. His sermons are sharp, quiet weapons, layered with meaning only the wise catch. Monaghan's men watch from the back row, but Amos sees them too. He never raises his voice, but his gaze says everything it needs to: “I know. I see you.”

Secrets & Lore

The Bell (The Cry of Reckoning): Cracked in 1807 during a thunderstorm that coincided with the death of the town’s first miner. The hollow, broken sound it makes is unlike any other bell. Some say it rings differently for births, deaths, and approaching storms. Others believe it rings on its own at night.

Church Roles

Acolyte – A church assistant responsible for small tasks like lighting candles, cleaning pews, and assisting with sermons.
- Weekly pay: $1.00
Deacon – A trusted church official who helps with sermons, charity, and community outreach, often seen as a moral leader.
- Weekly pay: $5.00
Preacher – The spiritual leader of the church, delivering sermons, guiding the flock, and navigating the delicate balance of faith and survival.
- Weekly pay: $10.00

Services

Daily Prayer Access: The church remains open for private prayer at all hours.
Confession (Quiet Talks): Reverend Amos Green offers "quiet talks" within the church. While not formally called "confession," locals treat it as such.
Anointing of Tools: Miners and loggers bring tools to be blessed for protection.
Sunday Sermons: Weekly sermons led by Reverend Amos Green.
Seasonal Blessings: Blessings for new crops, livestock, and births as the town enters a new season.
Prayer Circles: Women of the town gather weekly to offer prayers for protection, health, and guidance. Secret "worker meetings" are often disguised as prayer circles.

Donations: Seasonal clothing, food, goods and candles that are donated to the church are redistributed to those in need every Sunday.
Cooling Station: The church opens its doors to miners and travelers seeking refuge from the summer heat. Jugs of cool spring water and simple bread are made available.
Night Watch Meals: Bread and hot cider are offered to those on watch duty in town (sheriff’s deputies, watchmen, and those watching for wolves).
Warm Hearth Refuge: The church offers shelter to those without firewood or warmth. Miners who have no firewood are encouraged to stay in the church overnight.

Remembrance Service (October 31st): Families light candles for the dead. Names of lost miners, loggers, and loved ones are read aloud. Offerings of bread, coins, and herbs are left at the altar for the spirits.
Ritual of First Flame: The first hearth fire of the season is blessed by the reverend, and families take home an ember to start their own hearth fires.
The Night of Light (Winter Solstice): Townsfolk light lanterns and walk the town to "push back the dark." Families bring lanterns to the church, and the reverend blesses them.

Wares

Prayer Candles: Beeswax candles blessed by the reverend. Available for personal prayer use at home.
Herbal Pouches: Small pouches of wild herbs (lavender, sage, rosemary) for protection, peace, or safe travels. Quietly supplied by Maggie Finch.
Blessed Ribbons: Thin fabric strips blessed for "safe passage" and tied on mining tools, wagons, and children's clothes.
"Light of the Faithful" Lanterns: Small personal lanterns blessed with a protection prayer. Miners purchase them to bring into the mines.
Holy Ash: Ashes from the first blessed fire of the season are saved and handed out in small pouches. Miners smear the ash on their hands before descending into the mines.
Consecrated Water: Water blessed for protection or purity. Used to anoint homes, wagons, or personal belongings.