First off, please accept this note of apology for my tardiness. My Photo Challenge post is late this week as I have been away on a family cruise. I purposely bought the most minimal Internet package and had no access to web browsing or email until I returned last weekend. Even though I had my photo gallery with me, I took a break from the daily grind of Internet access, except for social posts on my personal Facebook page. Now, on to my challenge response.

This week, Jen H. asks us to share a photo of something that is dearly loved. She shared an image of an old teddy bear, now a family heirloom. You can read the entire challenge post here. I have always enjoyed the architectural beauty of our nation’s churches but only lately have included some of these beloved houses of worship in my photographic itinerary. In the opening photo, the dual spires of the parish at the Richardton Abbey in North Dakota is my focus.

Richardton is at the western end of the state of North Dakota. At the eastern end, in my home town, is another Saint Mary’s church, the Cathedral of the Fargo Diocese.  Both of these churches reflect a religious population that supported the construction of relatively high cost buildings. North Dakota has rural country churches as well as these larger edifices. 

These smaller rural North Dakota Churches are still servicing their parishioners and are no less beloved than the more imposing  architecture of the larger churches. The Waldheim Church in the Sheyenne River valley near the town of Kathryn, North Dakota. The image below is of the Preston Church, a rural house of worship is located near the town of Fort Ransom.

Preston Church, captured one Sunday morning just after services, like Waldheim Lutheran Church has been around since the late 1800’s. Country churches of the era include nearby cemeteries where the beloved family members are interred. A family history of any parish can be gleaned by reading of the people’s memorial headstones.

John Steiner