Under the sweeping blue skies of the North Dakota plains sits a little church in a little town. Like many of the other little churches that dot the prairies and plains of the midwest, St. Benedict Church of Horace, ND has stood the test of time. For more than 150 years, St. Benedict has helped the community thrive.

The thriving community, however, led St. Benedict Church outgrowing its two bell towers. The time had come to build and create new space for the new faces joining the parishioners. Chaired by parishioner Paul Richard, a building committee got to work planning.

It took 15 years of dedication and work to find the right patch of land, get the architecture down, and plan for the church’s future needs–all while making sure the new building would meet the parish’s current needs. The committee tapped architect James Monson to design the new space.

But with a new building comes new space–and new spaces need to be furnished. With help from the experts at InterOffice, St. Benedict Church was able to hold its first mass in a new space that merged the history of the building and its art with the modern needs of today.

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Honoring a History

Paul’s knowledge of the church spans generations, stretching all the way back to the 1870s when Paul’s great-grandfather Alex Richard was a member. As Paul grew up, he grew in the church–in this church. Even after leaving the area for a time, when Paul and his wife retired to the Fargo area they returned to St. Benedict.

“It felt like home,” Paul said. “It was time to go back.”

Paul aims to honor the history of the church, the parish, and his loved ones as he works to establish the groundwork for another 150 years. Horace and the parish itself were growing, meaning the beautiful building was beginning to feel small. While having more congregants than space is a good problem for any house of worship, it still is a problem.

In 2022, Paul and the rest of the building committee broke ground for a new church building. Eventually, the hope is for a parish center of operations, a social hall, and maybe even a school. All of the new would be centered around the antique, with the church itself as the centerpiece.

As the buildings got underway, Paul and his committee ensured they continued honoring the church’s legacy. From making sure the historic stained glass windows are well-placed to carefully moving the antique statues and sculptures, the buildings had to reflect the legacy St. Benedict has already established. Father Jared Kadlec and then Father Andrew Jasinski led the parishioners through the transition, keeping hope and faith alive.

”We are planting the seeds of the next 150, 250 years. And it’s a part of our heritage, a part of
our connectivity to the past.

Paul Richard
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Envisioning a Future

Part of keeping that legacy meant that the decor and furniture had to mesh the old and honored with the new and necessary. Paul knew that to pull off said meshing, the church was going to need outside help.

InterOffice’s Workspace Expert Jolynn Kaldor and Residential Expert Sheila Hanson joined the church’s story around the time they broke ground in 2022. For Paul, having expert help was crucial.

“Designing and planning this facility is a big job,” Paul said, noting the staggering 22,000 sq. feet the committee had to plan for. “InterOffice made our job easy.”

Sheila pulled influence and experience from her residential work, creating spaces that would give folks the comfort of a church but the functionality of an office. Even when discussing the seemingly minute details, such as finishes, Sheila made sure to act as a caring guide to the committee. 

And guide them, she did. From needing to furnish spaces large enough to hold upwards of 900 people to quiet, comfortable mothers’ rooms, Sheila and Jolynn helped establish spaces that could flex to meet the demands of a crowd or a lone parishioner. With pieces from Stickley and from Charleston Forge, the items themselves are a blend of office and home, perfect for a space that is a blend of the old and the new.

For Paul, the new building is more than a milestone in an already decade-and-a-half-long project. It’s a part of his heritage, his connection to his past. It’s also a part of his own legacy and his connection to the future.

“We are planting the seeds of the next 150, 250 years,” Paul said. “And it’s a part of our heritage, a part of our connectivity to the past.”

The new building recently held its first mass, meaning the space is up and running for every parishioner who needs it. From the abundant natural light to the dark chocolate brown finishes, the building is sure to welcome current and future generations. Paul sees that future clearly.

“It’s beautiful. I feel that quiet and that calmness in the space,” Paul said. “At the end of the day, all I can say is wow.”