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L
ocated high atop a hill on the west bank of the Missouri river and nestled among the
trees is St. Benedict’s Abbey, one of the most serenely beautiful Gothic structures in all
of Kansas. Upon taking a first glimpse of the abbey, the fortunate visitor is often met
with pleasant surprise at seeing this unexpected ‘sleeping giant.’ The original Gothic building
lies largely hidden behind the more modern , and more frequently visited Abbey Church.
Several years ago, Laurie Schmelzle of Al Badia Arabian Stud in Kansas had just finished giving a guest lecture on chinchilla breeding
and genetics at the Benedictine College, located on the abbey grounds in Atchison. After the lecture most of the biology class, along
with the professor and the abbey’s retired abbot, Abbot Owen Purcell, OSB, went down to the riverfront for lunch, followed by a
tour of the abbey. During this tour Mrs. Schmelzle saw for the first time the breathtaking beauty of the east side of the abbey.
A vision not to be forgotten, Mrs. Schmelzle sent some pictures of the abbey to photographer Jerry Sparagowski, followed by a
request for permission from Abbot Owen to hold a photo shoot with Arabian horses on the east lawn. Fortunately Abbot Owen was
encouraging and enthusiastic about the project, allowing the planning to move forward.
The Abbey Church - photo Fr. Jeremy Heppler, OSB
The stately original Gothic structure, overlooking the east lawn and the
river. - photo L. Schmelzle
318 TUTTO ARABI