On the contrary, this US bar serves beer and all other sorts of alcoholic beverages

Sep 8, 2014 13:28 GMT  ·  By

If you've never given much thought to the idea of visiting the city of Atlanta in Georgia, US, you probably will after learning that this is probably the only place on Earth where you can find a church-themed bar.

The establishment, whose official name is Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium, opened about 4 years ago on Edgewood Avenue in Old Fourth Ward.

In time, it came to be referred to simply as Church. Not at all surprisingly, it's wildly popular among locals and visitors to the area alike. In fact, some say that it is one of Atlanta's most visited and appreciated tourist attractions.

A church-themed bar's anatomy

As noticeable in the photo next to this article and the one below, the walls of this establishment are covered in religious art. Paintings of Jesus, crosses, and even statues of the Virgin Mary are just some of the things on display at Church.

Besides, the bar is home to an organ that folks can actually play while wearing complimentary choir robes, and a confessional that serves as a photo booth, Oddity Central informs. Every once in a while, Church organizes ping pong tournaments.

Religious paintings and statues aside, this establishment is, after all, a bar. Hence, it serves beer and all sorts of other alcoholic beverages. Whether or not the cocktails here are made with holly water remains a mystery.

The man behind Church

This bar in Atlanta is the brainchild of a man named Grant Henry, who is also the establishment's owner. Apart from coming up with the idea to make a church-themed bar, this visionary created the art that Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium owes its popularity to.

When he was younger, Grant Henry worked as a bartender for about a decade, and also attended some classes at the Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. He was never ordained, but he learned enough to be able to create religious works.

The man says that, at first, he made religious art by adding catchy, heretical phrases to regular paintings. In time, his work only became more complex, and eventually, Grant Henry, who signs his work as Sister Louisa, decided to mix and match these two careers of his and create Church.

What people think about Church

Since the religious art on display at this bar in Atlanta isn't your run-off-the-mill paintings of baby Jesus and somber crosses, there are some people who don't really approve of how Grant Henry chose to make a living. Others find Church absolutely brilliant, and visit it on a regular basis.

“Two people can look at the same picture the same piece of art and you know one of them says, ‘Wow this guy is awesome. He is so, you know, a religious guy, he’s whatever.’ The next person can come in and say, ‘I’m leaving this place, lightning is about to strike,” the bar's owner explained in an interview.

Seeing how Grant Henry is now making plans to open one other such bar in nearby Athens, it's safe to assume that there are more people who love and adore the establishment than there are folks who believe that its creator and owner will be handed a one-way ticket to the underworld after death.

Grant Henry signs his work as Sister Louisa
Grant Henry signs his work as Sister Louisa

Photo Gallery (2 Images)

Bar in Atlanta, US, has religious art adorning its walls
Grant Henry signs his work as Sister Louisa
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