On Saturday, dozens of people took to the streets of Ironton, led by lantern and candle-carrying guides on a tour of downtown’s churches.

Ironton is blessed with a large number of historic churches, with some dating prior to the Civil War.

The event, organized annually by the Lawrence County Museum, gave visitors a chance to not only see the interiors of these grand buildings, but to meet members of different denominations and congregations.

All the stops of the tour were welcoming and provided a chance for everyone to share in the spirit of the Christmas season in a fellowship event that was both educational and festive.

In a time when our society seems more divided than in decades, along lines of race, class and religion, it is good to see something that brings people from all walks of life together.

We commend the museum for putting this together every year and encourage those who have never taken part to consider joining next year’s tour.

It is a wonderful community-oriented evening that is both uplifting and memorable.