Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD

Visited on: Thursday, August 22, 2024
Cost: Free

I love rolling into a small town and finding a huge surprise. 

The history and architecture of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, South Dakota, offer a glimpse into the rich heritage of the Czech immigrants who established the church in 1871. The current building, completed in 1898, is an exemplary representation of the Gothic Revival architectural style. It stands as a testament to the skill and dedication of its builders, featuring intricate stained glass windows that cast colorful light into the interior, a tall steeple that punctuates the skyline, and detailed woodwork that highlights the craftsmanship of the period. These architectural elements not only enhance the church’s aesthetic appeal but also serve as enduring symbols of the community’s cultural legacy.

Sign detailing the history of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, built in 1899. It includes construction details, dates for additional buildings, and notes that the cemetery predates the street layout from 1872.

Before I went into the church, I went to admire the two grottos built of river rock.

A landscaped area with a religious statue under a stone archway, surrounded by greenery. A pathway leads to the statue, with another statue of Saint Wenceslaus on the left and a large shed in the background. This serene spot can be found near the Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.
A stone grotto featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary, flanked by two flower arrangements and three kneeling figures, is set in a park with a walking path and trees at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.
A small stone tower with a statue inside stands on a grassy area near the cemetery, adjacent to the historic Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor SD. A brick building is visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A stone grotto with a statue of a person standing inside, surrounded by a grassy area and trees, with the Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD visible in the background.
Two plaques mounted on a stone surface. The top plaque reads, "This bell was donated to Lakeport Church in 1894 by John H. Kaiser." The bottom plaque reads, "St. Therese of the Child Jesus in memory of Stanislav & Aneška Čarda by daughters - 1984," a tribute from Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.

The inside was also beautiful.

An interior view of the Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, showcasing wooden pews, a red carpet aisle, stained glass windows, and various religious artifacts at the front.
An interior view of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, reveals a wooden pulpit with intricate carvings, stained glass windows, and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Candles are lit near the statue and banners hang on the walls.
A church interior with a religious statue as the focal point, surrounded by ornate wooden carvings. Red prayer candles are lit below, and a banner with text hangs on the right. This serene setting is found in Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.
The interior of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD features a wooden altar adorned with statues, candle holders, and a green altar cloth bearing religious symbols. The floor is covered by red carpet, with an American flag standing proudly in the background.
An ornate wooden altar with religious statues stands in the church interior of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, featuring arched windows and red carpet flooring.
A church interior with wooden pews, red carpeting, ornate decor, stained glass windows, and religious statues. The view faces the altar at the front of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.
A relic of Saint Wenceslaus is displayed in a golden monstrance, encased in glass with a sign thanking Saint John the Baptist Parish in Lesterville and Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, for its use.

Wandering around inside, I decided to head outside to check out the adjacent cemetery.

A stone crucifixion scene with statues of Jesus on the cross and other figures below, surrounded by trees and greenery in a well-maintained outdoor area at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.
A cemetery with numerous graves on a grassy field. Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, with its tall steeple, is visible in the background. Trees and a partly cloudy sky are in the distance.
A cemetery with various tombstones in the foreground, a pathway, and the large Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church with its tall steeple in the background under a partly cloudy Tabor SD sky.

I was a bit surprised when I saw this grave marker. The skull and crossbones immediately made me think about the Jolly Roger flag, and I wondered if perhaps a pirate was buried there.

A detailed stone cross with an angel at its base, featuring religious inscriptions and a depiction of Christ, stands proudly in the grassy cemetery of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, with other tombstones in the background.

A quick Google search led me to discover that it has a few potential interpretations when placed on a tombstone. I stole this straight from Google’s AI answer.

A skull and crossbones below a crucifix can have multiple meanings, including:

Golgotha
The Aramaic word golgotha means “the place of the skull” in Hebrew, and refers to the site where Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem.

Adam’s burial
Medieval tradition held that Adam and Eve were buried at Golgotha, and that Christ’s cross was raised over Adam’s skull. The skull can symbolize Adam’s grave, and the skull and crossbones can represent Christ’s victory over death and sin by being placed beneath Jesus’ feet.

Memento Mori
A Latin phrase that loosely translates to “remember you must die”. The skull can serve as a reminder of human mortality.

Heading around to the back of the church, I found another grotto and a few more items constructed from river stones.

A stone grotto holding a statue of a religious figure is situated on a grassy area near a cemetery, adjacent to the Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor SD. Flanked by white flower pots, the sky is partly cloudy.
A white statue stands on a stone pedestal in the grassy yard of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, surrounded by trees and buildings.
The back of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church, a red brick church with a steep roof, two chimneys, and a cross on top, is surrounded by trees and shrubbery on a sunny day in Tabor, SD.

I’d love the brickwork, especially the bricks they used for the rectory. I’ve seen this style of bricks in a number of places in South Dakota, and it always gives the buildings an interesting texture.

A two-story brick house with a white porch, surrounded by greenery and potted flowers, sits charmingly along the sidewalk near Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.

Here are a couple more pictures of the church.

A brick church, Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD, with a tall steeple and cross sits at the end of a pathway lined with flowers and a suspended chain. Trees and a clear blue sky are in the background.
A red brick church with a tall steeple stands behind a low concrete wall and trees under a blue sky with clouds, embodying the serene charm of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Tabor, SD.

And here’s a bonus picture of a mural on the wall of a building near the church.

A colorful mural in Tabor SD, depicting various scenes celebrating the town's heritage, including a crowned figure, a baseball player, roses, and local foods, painted on the side of a building next to Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church and a grassy area.
Journal Entry filed under: