On the 25th of July, Feast of St. James, our church building in Cannon Ball burned to the ground - everything - to ashes. Canon John was called by Robert Fool Bear at about 10:00 pm saying that he believed the building was on fire. Leaving home within minutes with his oldest son, Isaiah, they raced to the scene. By the time he arrived the parish hall was all but gone with just a few partial wall standing up. The church itself was fully involved with the roof line still visible in the dark billowing smoke and flames.
Members of the congregation and community were there watching as their remembered all of the people that they had known who had worshiped there. Some said their memories burned up in the fire that night. We have since come to know that it was not our memories, but things about that building reminded us of those special people and times. These memories have been used by the Spirit to renew our faith and commitment.
While the fire itself became a criminal investigation by ATF, FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement, the attention of the congregation turned to its next steps. On the Sunday following the fire Bishop Michael Smith came to lead worship with the Standing Rock Clergy and People. Renewal of our Baptismal Covenant and the promise of pastoral care through this time of crisis were pledged by St. James' members and clergy.
Following the service that was held under a makeshift tent in the parking lot of St. James' the grill was lit and food was set out for a picnic lunch the included some important business. The congregation that day included about sixty members. Sitting in the shade provided a large group gathered to begin the work of rebuilding. Because St. James' had been around for so long we knew her strengths and weaknesses as a building. We needed to develop some perimeters for a building committee to use in creating a plan for the new building.
Canon John asked how a new building could be used. Many things from Christmases, youth ministry, weddings and baptisms were remembered as things that we were able to do in the one that was in ashes just behind where we were seated. It seemed to be unanimous that we attempt to rebuild with the ability to hold our community's funerals in this building. St. James' was able to seat up to 90 people (tightly) in the old church. To hold a community member's funeral we would need to stretch that space out to seat 250 people.
Other discussion involved where to rebuild. Getting a lot in the community is being thought about - but the likelihood is that we'll rebuild where we have been for more than a hundred years. But to build to accommodate large community gatherings would require imagination in creating a multipurpose space as well as affordable heating and cooling system. A Building Committee has been named and has met four times. The insurance claim has been completed and the congregation is developing plans to do some significant fundraising to put this building into the shape that it needs to have to meet the needs of generations yet to come.
The following has been adopted by the Vestry/Building Committee:
Principles of the New Design
1. The new St. James’ is being designed to be a multipurpose building. That simply means that as much of the space as possible can be used for various purposes (i.e., worship, fellowship, youth, etc.) and that most all of the space can be used for a single purpose (wakes, funeral, feeds, etc.)
The proposed plan is just over 3500 sq. ft. The old St. James’ was about 3000 sq. ft. The difference is that the old church was not multipurpose. The areas of the church building were separate from one another.
2. The Episcopal Church has been in Cannon Ball since about 1890. We have an opportunity to construct a building that looks and feels like it belongs within this community. We are working to develop a building that expresses our faith through Dakota Culture as well as symbolically telling the story of the people living here.
3. The building needs to be useful and not overwhelming or burdensome. This basically means two things: If we build something that is so large smaller congregations will feel lost in it during worship, and it needs to be economical to heat and cool.
4. The building needs to have widespread approval by members of St. James’ congregation. This building will be used by Cannon Ball families for several generations. Our imaginations need to help us see their needs as well as ours.
5. The fire shouldn’t define us in a negative way, but refine us as God’s people in a good and positive way.
The insurance will cover a substantial part of the budget to rebuild, but a significant gap is likely to remain between that and the actual cost of replacing and furnishing the building. A building fund has been established in the Diocese of North Dakota to receive donations. They may be sent to:
The Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota
attn: St. James'
3600 25th St S
Fargo, ND 58104
At the time this article is being written the Vestry/Building Committee is meeting with a Post and Beam/Log Home Contractor. He did the Post and Beam work on the new building at St. Sylvan’s and the design that he has brought forward from the congregation’s and committees meetings has captured our imagination.
In October 2008 a group of two native young adults from Cannon Ball, one from Selfridge and two from South Dakota attended a conference at the National Cathedral on Church Design and Culture. Dn. Terry Star and Cn. John Floberg put on the conference.
Jordan Shelltrack, whose family are long time members at St. James' came up with one floor plan.
Another floor plan by Brittany Flying Horse, Cannon Ball, in the shape of the Jerusalem Cross has several similar features.
In August 2012 we are considering a plan that has Jordan’s as its basis:
These are ideas that will give way to a project that is likely to begin soon. It will be a building that tells the Christian story as if that Story had begun here - not ended here.
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