Friends, neighbors and total strangers gather once a year for the Singing at the Old Country Church.

The historic church has never been too small to hold them all but, as more people hear about the singing, that day is coming.

“Last year we had a few empty chairs but it was close,” said John Senn, who organizes the singings. “We’ve always had good crowds. People just enjoy getting together to sing.”

And, when the crowd gathers at the Old Country Church about four miles south of Brundidge, the church can’t contain their voices. The beautiful and heartfelt singing slows travelers along busy Highway 231 and some motorists pull off the road to listen.

And, it will be that way again at 2 p.m. Sunday for the Singing at the Old Country Church.

“We invite people of all denominations to join us,” Senn said. “The old familiar hymns are sung a cappella and in harmony – soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Everybody joins in where they can. And, if you want to lead, you can do that, too.”

The Singings at the Old Country Church have been held for about 10 years. However, when John and Mary Senn agreed to have the old Hamilton Crossroads Church of Christ building moved to their property, they weren’t sure what its purpose would be.

“The old church building was offered to any member who would have it moved at their expense,” Senn said. “There were too many memories and too much history in that old church building for it not to be preserved. I walked down that aisle to join the church when I was 12 year old, as had my own folks and funerals had been conducted for members of my family there. We wanted it to be preserved.”

John and Mary Senn had the building moved to their property and made the necessary renovations.

Their idea was to make it available for family reunions and other special events.

“My dad was a singer and we sang in quartets,” Senn said. “I had always been a singer and I love vocal music and a lot of people enjoy singing. So, we decided to have a singing and the singings really caught on and we look forward to them every year.”

Senn said the most requested song is “Our God He is Alive.”

“That song probably generalizes the congregation,” he said. “But everybody has a favorite and we can sing a lot of favorites in an hour and 15 minutes.”

The singing at the Old Country Church will begin at 2 p.m. and end promptly at 3:15 p.m.

“An hour’s not long enough and an hour and a half is too long,” Senn said, with a chuckle. “So, we sing for an hour and 15 minutes. We invite all of those who enjoy singing those old hymns that we all know and love to join us at the Old Country Church Sunday afternoon.”