Churches
Churches have long drawn my attention as both architectural spaces and repositories of history. From small rural parishes to larger urban sanctuaries, these photographs explore the details, craftsmanship, atmosphere, and sense of place found in churches across the region.
Many of these buildings have served their communities for generations. My interest is not simply in documenting how they look, but in preserving something of their character and the stories written into their spaces.
Assumption Church, Topeka, KS
Located on SW 8th Avenue directly across from the Kansas State Capitol, Assumption Church has been part of downtown Topeka for generations. Assumption Parish traces its roots to 1862 and was the city’s first Catholic parish.
Assumption is also a very personal place for me. It is the church I grew up in, where my family attended Mass, where I served as an altar boy, and where I received my First Confession, First Communion, and Confirmation.
Against the scale and activity of the Capitol and downtown, the church offers a striking contrast. Inside, stained glass, marble, painted details, and changing light create a much quieter and more intimate space.
These photographs look at Assumption from both perspectives: its place in the heart of Topeka and the architectural and devotional details found within, seen through the eyes of someone who has known the church since childhood.
