Fargo, North Dakota.

In downtown Fargo, several churches dot the landscape. Just north of the heart of downtown, the steeple on the Cathedral of Saint Mary rises 172 feet (52 m)  above the ground. Completed in 1889, the parish was built under the supervision of Bishop John Shanley. North Dakota parishioners were supported by the Diocese of Jamestown when Bishop Shanley moved to Fargo. By 1897, the diocese was renamed to the Diocese of Fargo.

I don’t know a lot about architecture, but I know a beautiful building when I see it. Churches are typically the most beautiful buildings in a community, but lately I’ve noticed that construction costs and pragmatism have given modern churches a more pedestrian look. I prefer the look of churches built in an earlier time. Bishop Shanley created a building fund to build a cathedral and by 1983, the basement of the building was completed. That year, however, the downtown area of Fargo was all but destroyed by fire. Bishop Shanley donated funds originally earmarked for the church to help rebuild the city delaying the dedication of the new cathedral to May 30, 1899.

Several small gardens dot the property around the cathedral and the other church properties in the large complex. On this late July morning, we arrived just a bit too late to take advantage of the “golden hour” around sunrise, but we were early enough that the long morning shadows added to the atmosphere. In the small gallery of images included here, I’ve captured a couple of floral details.

A couple of days after our visit to the cathedral, I had the opportunity to fly over the downtown area. That story and the reason for that special flight will be featured next week. In the back seat for this flight, I had the opportunity to snap a photo of the church complex.

Near the entrance to the cathedral, a couple of benches and stone engraving of The Beatitudes invites all to stop to contemplate or maybe say a prayer. I submit for your consideration a gallery of images captured that morning around the Cathedral of Saint Mary. On most browsers, you can click on an image to enlarge it and to scroll through the gallery.

John Steiner