The Old Stone Church along Firesteel Creek, SD

Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation
West of Mobridge, South Dakota
August, 2009

On March 13, 1996 an article appeared in a special edition of the Mobridge Tribune, entitled “Rock of Ages”. The article went on to tell about, and show photos of an old stone church located in a remote location on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.  I saved the article, hoping one day to visit this site.

In 2005, once again visiting the area, a map and guide to various interesting sites in this area appeared in a special summer issue of the Timber Lake Topic.  The old stone church was listed and its location shown on the map.  It was described as “Holy Spirit Chapel, an Episcopal mission church, built along Firesteel Creek, from stones quarried out of the nearby hills,” and was a “very rare piece of prairie mission architecture”.  The article also added, “Roads are not passable when wet, and it can be hard to find without a guide.” I saved the map, but the location seemed too difficult for us to actually find!

This year, (2009) I once more read the articles I had saved, and became obsessed with the idea of finally locating this church!  Several people had heard of it, but no one could tell us exactly how to find it!  Then I met Virgil Standing Cloud, an employee of the campground here on Indian Island.  He knew of the church, and gave us some more pointers how to find it.

So, one beautiful day, we set off on a drive, hoping to locate the old stone church!  First, we drove west on highway 12, later branching off on side roads. The countryside consists of rolling grasslands, and here and there we spotted cattle, and small herds of horses.

Coming across a different church, (Good Shepherd Church), we pulled off to examine it.  The building itself was not noteworthy, but we wandered around the small cemetery, and found its location and old grave stones all very picturesque.

Back on the road, we continued west for at least 15 miles, until we came to a sign in the shape of a cross indicating the “road” to Holy Spirit Chapel, (the old stone church.)  Actually, it was just a narrow dirt track leading across a pasture!  After about three miles, we turned west, and before long, spotted the church down in the valley of Firesteel Creek.   Following a steep narrow track, we finally arrived at the beautiful little building.  To finally be here gave me a profound feeling of awe that I cannot describe.

According to the Timber Lake and Area Historical Society’s website, “One of the most distinguishing elements on the church is the seven foot Niobrara cross above the front door. The cross is carved into the native stone. The Niobrara Cross….is used exclusively by the Indian Episcopal Church of the Dakotas.”  (click here to go to their website.)

Approaching the church, we found the door unlocked, so we entered to a truly impressive sight!  Ten small wooden pews with a center aisle lead to a recessed nave at the front of the church, which is framed by a large stone arch.  Within this area stands a small altar framed by a smaller stone arch. Centered over the altar is a large wooden cross.  Bouquets of colorful plastic flowers adorn the altar, and candles remain from some prior service.  A small room opened up directly off the altar area, empty now, except for some old water damaged hymnals.  Off to the side, between the pews and the recessed area, stands a small pot-bellied stove…the only source of heat for the church.  The wooden overhead beams, and stone walls and floor were of interest as well.  From all appearances, the church has not been used in quite some time.

At the back of the church, we stopped to read some old framed newspaper clippings.  Holy Spirit Church was supposedly designed by an architect from Germany, and was built in 1922.  A plaque on the wall lists it as being on the National Register of Historical Places. The church, from all appearances has not been used recently.

Outside, we wandered a short distance to the cemetery.   Here too, were signs of neglect…no new graves, and many stones and crosses were buried in the long grass.  We wondered how different it must have been when a community existed here in this valley.  In fact, on our entire drive…we saw very few home sites in the country.  Most of the residents on the reservation now live in the surrounding small towns.

Back at the campground, Virgil was happy to hear about our outing, and realizing that I was interested in local history, loaned me his copy of the book “Standing Rock Sioux”.  This book is a pictorial history of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.  Inside the book, Virgil had left a copy of his family tree going back five generations!  This, to me was of as much interest as the book itself…and I wondered how many people I knew could trace their family tree back that far!

Visiting the old stone church was a day I will remember always!

(click on pictures to enlarge)