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In the News

Snake handling: A fading tradition

In struggling Jolo, W.Va., a few try to keep alive such expressions of faith.

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Pastor Randy "Mack" Wolford handles a rattlesnake during a service at the Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo, W.Va. Each Labor Day weekend, the church has hosted a well-documented “homecoming” for snake handlers who believe that the Bible mandates that true Christians "take up serpents and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover." Wolford says: "Anybody can do it that believes it."

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Pastor Pete Woods, second from left, and others lay hands on Jimmy Stanley, 72, during a service in Stanley's home in McDowell County, W.Va., in March. The region saw a boom in the 1950s to 1970s but fell on hard times in the 1980s. Over the years, four-fifths of the county’s population left. Those remaining are the retired, the unemployed, the drugged-out and the sick.

Pastor Pete Woods, second from left, and others lay hands on Jimmy Stanley, 72, during a service in Stanley's home in McDowell County, W.Va., in March. The region saw a boom in the 1950s to 1970s but fell on hard times in the 1980s. Over the years, four-fifths of the county’s population left. Those remaining are the retired, the unemployed, the drugged-out and the sick.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Woods and others lay hands on Marvin Rowe, 53, during a religious service in a McDowell County home in March. Woods pastors at the nondenominational Jesus Church in Bartley, W.Va.

Woods and others lay hands on Marvin Rowe, 53, during a religious service in a McDowell County home in March. Woods pastors at the nondenominational Jesus Church in Bartley, W.Va.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Woods returns to his house one afternoon in May. About 30 people go to his church on a good day, although, years ago, 130 attended. His own children have left. 'They were raised in church, but none go,' he says.

Woods returns to his house one afternoon in May. About 30 people go to his church on a good day, although, years ago, 130 attended. His own children have left. "They were raised in church, but none go," he says.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Woods, center, digs a grave for the Rev. John Henry Jewell, who had died of black lung the previous day. Woods says he spends part of his time digging graves for the poor.

Woods, center, digs a grave for the Rev. John Henry Jewell, who had died of black lung the previous day. Woods says he spends part of his time digging graves for the poor.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Reading the Bible, Chuck Conner, 64, is one of the few attendees at the first service of homecoming weekend at the Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo. The Pentecostal church was founded in 1956 by Bob and Barbara Elkins. One woman remembers the church being so full people would stand outside. But then one of Barbara Elkins’s children died of a snakebite in 1961 at age 23. These days, Pastor Harvey Payne says, the congregation has 10 members.

Reading the Bible, Chuck Conner, 64, is one of the few attendees at the first service of homecoming weekend at the Church of the Lord Jesus in Jolo. The Pentecostal church was founded in 1956 by Bob and Barbara Elkins. One woman remembers the church being so full people would stand outside. But then one of Barbara Elkins’s children died of a snakebite in 1961 at age 23. These days, Pastor Harvey Payne says, the congregation has 10 members.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Photos of snake handling at previous services decorate the walls of the church. Snake handling began in an East Tennessee church in 1909.

Photos of snake handling at previous services decorate the walls of the church. Snake handling began in an East Tennessee church in 1909.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

In Jolo, David Payne, left, Lyndon Salyers and Pastor Harvey Payne, right, honor those who were prominent figures in the snake-handling tradition. At one point it had several thousand practitioners, says the Rev. Bill Leonard, a professor at Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, N.C. Several states have banned it, including Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. But not West Virginia.

In Jolo, David Payne, left, Lyndon Salyers and Pastor Harvey Payne, right, honor those who were prominent figures in the snake-handling tradition. At one point it had several thousand practitioners, says the Rev. Bill Leonard, a professor at Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity in Winston-Salem, N.C. Several states have banned it, including Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. But not West Virginia.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Wolford, center, and others homecoming attendees lay their hands on a man during service at the Church of the Lord Jesus.

Wolford, center, and others homecoming attendees lay their hands on a man during service at the Church of the Lord Jesus.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

William Payne, 68, during a service at the Church of the Lord Jesus.

William Payne, 68, during a service at the Church of the Lord Jesus.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Nancy, left, and Ruth Kennedy dance during a service in Jolo. In addition to dancing and handling snakes, several people light a wick atop a soda bottle and hold the flame to their hands as an expression of faith.

Nancy, left, and Ruth Kennedy dance during a service in Jolo. In addition to dancing and handling snakes, several people light a wick atop a soda bottle and hold the flame to their hands as an expression of faith.

Lauren Pond / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

A highly venomous timber rattlesnake rests in a box in the Jolo church. About 80 to 100 deaths have been attributed to snake handling since its origins, and nearly every snake handler has been bitten, says the Rev. Bill Leonard, the religion professor from Wake Forest University. There’s a lot of pain when you’re bitten, says Wolford, whose father died at age 39 of a rattlesnake bite. 'For the first couple of weeks, you swell up and break out in hives.'

A highly venomous timber rattlesnake rests in a box in the Jolo church. About 80 to 100 deaths have been attributed to snake handling since its origins, and nearly every snake handler has been bitten, says the Rev. Bill Leonard, the religion professor from Wake Forest University. There’s a lot of pain when you’re bitten, says Wolford, whose father died at age 39 of a rattlesnake bite. "For the first couple of weeks, you swell up and break out in hives."

JIM LO SCALZO / EPA

Rufus 'Buddy' Jewell holds timber rattlesnake as he prays during homecoming in Jolo.

Rufus "Buddy" Jewell holds timber rattlesnake as he prays during homecoming in Jolo.

JIM LO SCALZO / EPA

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