Rural Steeples

Mar 15, 2017

In 2014, Sioux Falls photographer Christian Begeman started Prairie Sanctuaries, a Facebook page dedicated to country churches. He's since photographed and featured over 200 churches, with 55 of our 66 counties represented. Our March/April issue includes a photo essay of some of our favorites from his page. We shared them all in black and white, but we're sharing the color versions here — along with a few more we didn't have room for.

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Highland Lutheran about 7 miles north of Garretson in Minnehaha County.
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St. Peter Lutheran Church, a stone church near Madison.
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Augustana Lutheran Church near Claremont.
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Lodgepole Lutheran in northern Perkins County.
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Immanuel Lutheran in northeast Douglas County.
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Chapel of the Holy Spirit Church in Corson County, also known as the “Old Stone Church."
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The former St. Basil Church near Ridgeview. It has since burned down.
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Brown Earth Church in Grant County.
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Concordia Church in Roberts County.
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West Church east of Chester.
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Belleview Lutheran in Miner County.
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The interior of Brown Earth Church, or the “Old Indian Church,” east of Stockholm.
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A piano inside Brown Earth Church east of Stockholm.
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Tabor Lutheran Church in Strandburg.

Comments

11:52 am - Fri, March 17 2017

Gene Hetland said:

Rural churches are special and, yes, sacred places for those of us who trace our faith foundation to any of them. For me, it is St. Peter Lutheran Church of Orland (rural Madison). Four generations of my family rest in the cemetery, including my parents. Sadly, St. Peter will close the Sunday after Easter. But plans are in the works to re-purpose the building as a community center. My memories of an active faith community will never fade, even though we call another place our "church home."

11:48 pm - Tue, May 23 2017

Carolyn Cornie said:

My great grandfather, Hans Nasheim, was one of the founders of St. Peters. He is buried in the Cemetery. I am most anxious to learn any information about him and/or his family. His son, Elmer was my Grandfather. I also need the dates of his birth and death...but cannot find them anywhere.

Any help...greatly appreciated.

Any best wishes for this congregation as its takes its Mission in a new direction.

Carolyn Cornie

03:05 pm - Thu, June 8 2017

Lita Durr said:

I'm interested in any information and pix of a little country church way out on the plains of South Elrod, South Dakota. There is no town, just prairie and maybe a little grave yard beside it? We always passed through DeSmet on our way home from church. My Dad was the pastor between 1960-1966 approx.