Churches of Minnesota

by Jon Hassler, Jon Hassler (Contributor)

From the one-room chapel in a prairie town to the grandiose cathedral on a city street, churches stand at the heart of the Minnesota landscape. For many, churches embody the spiritual history of their towns and neighborhoods. In Churches of Minnesota, photographer Doug Ohman and award-winning writer Jon Hassler come together to honor these magnificent architectural icons and share the stories of faith that built and now sustain these sacred spaces.   Through the seasons, Doug Ohman has traveled to every corner of Minnesota to document the beauty of the state’s most evocative church structures of present and past. Here Ohman showcases one hundred of his most exquisite interior and exterior shots with a colorful survey of a broad range of architecture.    In the “sure-handed, honest language” (New York Times) for which he is renowned, Hassler reflects on his own spirituality and his evolving faith in the church and its people. A graceful complement to Ohman’s images, Hassler’s remembrances chronicle how one’s connection with these spiritual grounds grows and changes with the milestones of life.

Genres: Art

128 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2005

About the author

Jon Hassler was born in Minneapolis, but spent his formative years in the small Minnesota towns of Staples and Plainview, where he graduated from high school. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. John's University in 1955. While teaching English at three different Minnesota high schools, he received his Master of Arts degree in English from the University of North Dakota in 1960. He continued to teach at the high school level until 1965, when he began his collegiate teaching career: first at Bemidji State University, then Brainerd Community College (now called Central Lakes College), and finally at Saint John's, where he became the Writer-in-Residence in 1980.

During his high-school teaching years, Hassler married and fathered three children. His first marriage lasted 25 years. He had two more marriages; the last was to Gretchen Kresl Hassler.

In 1994, Hassler was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, a disease similar to Parkinson's. It caused vision and speech problems, as well as difficulty walking, but he was able to continue writing. He was reported to have finished a novel just days before his death. Hassler died in 2008, at the age of 74, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.[1]

The Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview, Minnesota, is named for him.

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second in photographer Doug Ohman's Minnesota Byways series capturing historic buildings of Minnesota, this is a collection of photos of churches in Minnesota accompanied by memories from Minnesota writer John Hassler about his experiences with churches and religion growing up. There are also small anecdotes accompanying several of the photos that tell the history of some of the churches or interesting happenings having to do with them.

This is a nice collection of photos that helps tell the story of religion in Minnesota. There are churches of many different faiths represented and that is nice to see. I also liked that so many different types of churches are included. There are small churches surrounded by cornfields and there are large churches like the cathedral in St. Paul, MN. The accompanying anecdotes give insight into the history and I also enjoyed the memories shared by John Hassler.

[Miss Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

An interesting look at some of the churches of various denominations that have been built in the past 150 years in Minnesota from its earliest days a a Territory to as recent as a decade ago.

The quality of the photos was not as high as I would have expected for a book of this sort and some of the best examples of architecture - both unique and classic - were inexplicably excluded from the book. Or a photograph which in no way showcased the church structure was used - in one case a sign at the church was used rather than a shot of the classic Austrian edifice. Why? And not a single church (and there are half a dozen to choose from) in Red Wing was shown.

[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's not a lot of information about how these places came to be, but that isn't the point. Instead the reader is treated to beautifully photographed places of worship from grand cathedrals to single room structures. Captures the heart and the imagination. Actual rating: 3.5

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially loved that the Cloverdale Community Church is included since this is so close to my mom's cabin. We pass by that little church often and now want to stop!

I have to admit that I just looked at the pictures and skimmed the text. This was on the bottom of a giant library stack and it came due before I had the time to really read it. It is on my list to check out again for a closer look.

I've always been fascinated by little community and country churches. So many were included. This is a beautiful book.

[Abigail (Abbe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my passions is historic churches. and i just love the photography in this book. i am proud that it is in my collection.

[Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the text by Jon Hassler.