st. andrew's church

What a wonderful, historical rural church! The German's from Russia culture is strong is the area as evidenced by the wonderful preservation of the church.

My review was of the active church. Upon seeing the photo of the heritage church I realized the picture does not match my review.

Modernistic building with excellent sight-lines. Good choir. Town has a decent café and a tavern. Check ahead as the church schedule changes monthly.

Last Saturday was my third visit to St. Andrew's, a priceless heritage site in rural McIntosh County. The Centennial Choir performed, always a stirring experience. The old parishioners of this inactive church continue to keep it in good nick and take pride in its history. The site would be notable just for the 1906 white frame church, but is even more so because the people have preserved, and recently done some good restoration work on, the 1892 stone-and-gumbo vernacular church building. This place gives me a lump in my throat.

If these walls could talk we would hear stories of pioneer life and the spiritual journey of an ethnic group known as the Germans from Russia. When America's "Pennsylvania Dutch" migrated from Germany to America, other German speaking folks were making their way to South Russia to cultivate the Russian Steppe. As their colonial status in Russia was abrogated, they left their beautiful villages in Russia and pursued free land in Dakota Territory. Starting all over was a daunting task. Homestead law dictated that pioneers live on their acreage making it impossible to duplicate the sense of community that village life in Russia allowed. As a very spiritual people, they began to worship together and build community in their tiny sod and stone homes on the prairie. In 1893 these settlers known as the "Beaver Creek Settlement" built a house of worship that they called "Andreas Gemeinde". The little stone church, built in the style of their homes in South Russia stands strong and proud 119 years after the original 15 families pooled their resources and created a spiritual home on the prairie. 16 years later, the tiny congregation built the tall, white Carpenter Gothic church next to the little stone church. Known as the "Beacon on the Prairie" it still stands today and is always open for visitors. The Cemetery on the property is well cared for and is unique in that the first decades followed the style of the old cemeteries in Europe. Buried in order of death with a separate children's section. This property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Very much worth a visit!