Saints Peter and Paul Church (New Hradec, North Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saints Peter and Paul Church
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The front of Saints Peter and Paul Church
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 Location in North Dakota
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Hradec, North Dakota |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architect | Ressler, Nick |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000161 |
| Added to NRHP | February 3, 1986 |
Saints Peter and Paul Church is a Catholic church in New Hradec, North Dakota. It was built in 1917 and designed by Nick Ressler. The church shows styles like Gothic Revival and Tudor Revival. This church has a special history. It served Czech families who moved from a place called Crimea. It is a very important building for showing New Hradec's Czech culture. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Contents
A Look at Its History
New Hradec was started in 1887 by people from Bohemia. These families were Czech immigrants who had lived in Crimea. They were the only Czech families from Crimea known to have settled in America.
Building the Church
These settlers created the Saints Peter and Paul church community in 1898. They built a wooden church first. Sadly, this church burned down in May 1917. But the community quickly built the church you see today. The new church was officially opened on August 19, 1917. Nick Ressler from Mandan designed it. Charles Bakke from Dickinson was the builder.
Church as a School
From 1918 to 1950, the church building was also used as a school. Sisters from the Sisters of Notre Dame taught classes there.
Czech Culture and Heritage
For many years, the church used the Czech language in its services. Czech cultural groups also supported the church. It has always been a key part of the Czech community in New Hradec. Because of its importance to the local Czech people, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 3, 1986.
Church Design and Style
Saints Peter and Paul Church was built using common and brown bricks. Its design mixes two old styles: Gothic Revival and Tudor Revival.
Special Design Features
You can see Tudor influences in several places. Look at the patterns on the windows, called tracery. Also, notice the archway around the main door. The strong supports on the outside walls, called buttresses, also show Tudor style.
Inside the Church
The church has a bell tower with an eight-sided wooden spire at the top. Inside, the church can seat 300 people. Many original parts are still there, like the wooden floors and pews (church benches). You can also find many plaster statues inside. These include plaster Stations of the Cross, which show scenes from the story of Jesus. The church is known for keeping its original design and building materials very well.
