Stephanie Turnham, director of Bell County Museum, couldn’t remember the source of that quote as she gazed at some Christmas ornaments.

History credits those words to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, an early 20th century architect. His writings say design gives and spirit to structure.

It was the ornament that resembles Temple’s First United Methodist Church that inspired Ms. Turnham to quote Ludwig.

“It’s beautiful work,” Ms. Turnham said, pointing at the brick-colored, dome-shaped ornament that mirrors the church at 102 N. 2nd St. It sat on a shelf at the museum’s bookstore, joined by several other Bell County church miniatures.

The ornaments are part of a fundraiser, developed by Margaret Williamson of Salado to benefit Belton’s Bell County Museum.

It started the fall season of 2002 with the Salado United Methodist Church ornament.

“I thought it would be a good way to celebrate the community and raise money for a good cause,” Ms. Williamson said.

The churches Ms. Williamson chooses to transform into ornaments are at least 60 years old and have either a Texas Historical Marker or a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

At her last count, she said there are 16 such churches in Bell County, but that figure excludes Eighth Street Baptist Church and Seaton Brethren Church - two churches that recently celebrated their 100th anniversaries with the dedication of state historical markers.

One ornament is made each year, the most recent being the one of FUMC. Next year’s ornament will be a replica of Temple’s First Presbyterian Church.

Ms. Williamson doesn’t make the ornaments. She launches each year’s ornament project with the color photographs she takes of the chosen church.

The museum sends the photographs to a company in China that produces the ornaments in cast resin. All ornaments are then hand painted and shipped to a receiving warehouse in California, their last stop before arriving in Bell County at the museum.

“I try to capture as many of the details as I can,” Ms. Williamson said, mentioning that black-and-white photography is a hobby. She studied the art at Temple College for two years. “The ones I do of the churches are in color, though.”

Mary Jean Boston, a FUMC member, also participated in this year’s project.

Ms. Boston provided the museum with a copy of the church’s architectural blueprints and a sample of the brick from the church’s framework. Those resources went to China alongside Ms. Williamson’s photos.

“The help (Ms. Boston) provided helped to give this year’s ornament such striking detail,” Ms. Williamson said.

Each ornament costs $15.

“Proceeds will benefit the bookstore fund at the Bell County Museum,” Ms. Turnham said. “And that fund helps conserve the museum’s collection.”

Cleaning and restoration fees are two examples of ways the museum relies on proceeds from bookstore sales.

Besides being creative ways to raise money, both Ms. Boston and Ms. Williamson think the ornaments are great things to have.

“They’re great to collect,” Ms. Boston said. “They’re so beautiful, so darling. I have all of them.”

Ms. Williamson said the ornaments make good gifts for people who have lived in Bell County a long time.

“Or for grandchildren who were baptized in that church,” Ms. Williamson added. “Or for those who grew up and got married there.”

The ornaments are sized and decorated to accommodate Christmas trees and multi-seasonal wreaths, she said, adding they look attractive on decorative cloths like doilies and scarves as well.

“They’re wonderful momentos,” Ms. Williamson said. “They’re items you can’t get anywhere else.”

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Email the writer at tlunsford@temple-telegram.com