City Methodist Church, Gary, Ind.

With their domed roofs, majestic towers, elaborate arches and stained-glass windows, churches are some of the most beautiful structures in the world. But many of these historic buildings have been left abandoned, neglected and succumbing to nature. In his reports from abandoned cities such as Chernobyl, Ukraine and Varosha, Cyprus for his best-selling book "The World Without Us," Alan Weisman wrote that structures crumble as weather does unrepaired damage and other life forms create new habitats. A common structure would begin to fall apart as water eventually leaks into the roof, erodes the wood and rusts the nail. Many of these churches, without intervention, could ultimately collapse.

Constructed in 1927 at the cost of $1 million, the Gothic-style City Methodist Church featured a 50-foot tall sanctuary nave and elaborate stonework. The community house auditorium, Seaman Hall, was used for musical and dramatic performances, community meetings, and other social events. The commercial space was supposed to generate enough income to mitigate the enormous cost of maintaining the building, but failed, according to records at Indiana University Northwest. During the 1950s, the church had a membership reaching 3,000 but it declined steadily for years afterwards. By the 1970s, attendance on Sundays was closer to 100 and in 1975 the church closed its doors. It is now one of the most popular locations for film and music video shoots (scenes from movies such as Transformers and Friday the 13th were shot here). The photos of City Methodist Church above were taken by Kris Arnold.

NEXT: This New York church was abandoned 100 years after it was founded

Church of the Transfiguration, Buffalo, N.Y.

A Gothic-style building, the Church of the Transfiguration was founded in 1893 to accommodate the growing population of Polish immigrants in the area, according to the Polish Genealogy Society of New York. In the 1930s and 40s, the parish flourished; many professionals and their families in the Fillmore-Sycamore Street neighborhood were parishioners there, making the Church of Transfiguration an influential institution. In the 70s, the number of parishioners started to drop when younger families started moving away. In 1993, the Diocese implemented a program to assess the vitality of many parishes and a final report was made recommending the closing of the Transfiguration. The church closed upon the conclusion of its centennial.

NEXT: A once-majestic church in Detroit

Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church, Detroit, Mich.

Located at 8501 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, this English Gothic-style church was built in 1911. The facade features a massive carved-stone entrance with a stained glass window set above. Adjoining the rear of the church is the two-story educational wing which was constructed at the same time as the church, according to Michigan State Historic Preservation site. The church struggled with declining membership in the 60s and 70s and in 1981 it was merged with another church, the Church of the Covenant, according to HistoricDetroit.org.. In 1993, it became the Abyssinia Interdenominational Church, but it never attracted enough members to offset operational and maintenance costs. When the pastor died in 2005, the building was left in a state of limbo.

NEXT: There have been reports of ghostly sightings at this English church

Cold Christmas Church, Thundridge, Hertfordshire, England

Located in Thundridge, Hertfordshire, England, the church is actually called Little St. Mary's Church, but earned the nickname "Cold Christmas Church" due to its proximity to Cold Christmas Lane. The church dates back to 1086 and was originally intended for private use. In 1853, the church was demolished, but the 15th-century stone tower was spared. The graveyard also still remains, although have it have not been maintained for years. There have been many stories of paranormal activity in the church. In 1978, a woman walking up to the church tower says she encountered a "marching army" coming from the church door and marched right through her.

NEXT: Abandoned churches in post-Katrina New Orleans

Churches of New Orleans, La.

A damaged church is shown in the Lower Ninth Ward Aug. 4, 2006, in New Orleans. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Years after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, abandoned, decaying structures dot New Orleans' Lower 9th Ward. Many of these were churches, historic buildings abandoned and left neglected. In January 2011, a major fire destroyed what's left of the building which once housed both the Prytania Street Presbyterian Church and the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, which was abandoned after Hurricane Katrina. Those who lived in the area say their dream that the church would be restored is gone for good, according tp WWLTV.com. Many residents still hope that other abandoned churches, such as the Saint Maurice Catholic Church in Holy Cross, be adapted for other uses, such as community centers.

NEXT: A son of a king may have been buried in this church

St. Mary's, Eastwell, Kent, England

St. Mary's Church, Eastwell, consists of the ruins of a former Anglican parish church in the hamlet of Eastwell, Kent, England and is included in the National Heritage List for England, due to the building's "special architectural or historic interest." Since 1980, the church has been under the care of the charity, the Friends of Friendless Churches. The church was built almost entirely of chalk blocks which, following the construction of nearby Eastwell Park Lake in 1841, started to soak up water which eventually resulted in the total collapse of the church in 1951. In the grounds of the church, is a tombstone for Richard Plantagenet, who, locals say, is the illegitimate son of King Richard the III, according to BBC News.

NEXT: One of the oldest churches in Cuba is now a tourist attraction

Santa Ana Church, Trinidad, Cuba

Built between 1712 and 1812, the shuttered Church of Santa is believed to be one of the oldest churches in Cuba. Vegetation now grows around the domed bell tower and arched doorways, but the church, located in Plaza de Santa Anna, has become a tourist destination. The plaza is home to a restaurant, a gallery, a handicrafts market and a shop selling quality pottery pieces, and nearby is a former Spanish prison (1844) that has been converted into the Plaza Santa Ana tourist center, according to Lonely Planet.

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