Midwest USA Intriguing and Historical Churches (Paperback)

Edifices of worship, prayer and moral community have provided their congregation's stability and shelter spanning generations and sometimes even centuries. Ecclesiastical architecture is meant to inspire and provide essential meeting space for institutional activities and shared rituals.

Each of these profiled churches offers a unique narrative and presence within their respective communities. Their accompanying profiles document their origins, histories, and in many instances architectural context. The selection transcends religious denominations, philosophies and chains of leadership. Some have incurred infamous scandals and others became the site for exceptional events. Whether offbeat or conventional, each has contributed towards a legacy within their communities. They singularly and collectively portray the diversity of religious institutions within the Midwestern United States.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN:

Old St. Mary's Catholic, Cathedral St. John The Evangelist, St. James, Calvary Presbyterian, St. Paul's Episcopal, Immanuel Presbyterian, Hope Lutheran Parish, Roman Catholic Church of the GESU, Former Grand Avenue Congregational, All Saint's Cathedral, and Basilica St. Josaphat

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA:

Roberts Park United Methodist, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Mary's Catholic, John The Evangelist Catholic, First Friends Missionary Baptist, Meridian Street United Methodist, Traders Point Christian, Zion Evangelical United, Buggs Temple and St. Joan of Arc

CINCINNATI, OHIO:

Covenant-First Presbyterian, Saint Francis Xavier, First Lutheran, Old St. Mary's Catholic, Trinity Episcopal, St. Francis Seraph, Isaac M. Wise/Plum Street Temple, Former St. Paul's, Mother of God Church, Mount Auburn Presbyterian, Former Uptown Church and St. Louis Church

COLUMBUS, OHIO:

Clinton Chapel, Second Presbyterian, Broad Street United Methodist, Union Grove Baptist, Saint Paul's Episcopal, Indianola Presbyterian, and Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

HELENA, MONTANA:

Former Unitarian Church of Helena, Holy Cross Catholic, Cathedral of Saint Helena, First Presbyterian, First Baptist, and St. Paul's and Covenant United Methodist

RACETRACK, MONTANA:

Morrisite Church

Visual Artist, Writer and Photographer Marques Vickers is a California native presently living in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, Washington regions.

He was born in 1957 and raised in Vallejo, California. He is a 1979 Business Administration graduate from Azusa Pacific University in the Los Angeles area. Following graduation, he became the Public Relations and ultimately Executive Director of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce between 1979-84. He subsequently became the Vice President of Sales for AsTRA Tours and Travel in Westwood between 1984-86.

Following a one-year residence in Dijon, France where he studied at the University of Bourgogne, he began Marquis Enterprises in 1987. His company operations have included sports apparel exporting, travel and tour operations, wine brokering, publishing, rare book and collectibles reselling. He has established numerous e-commerce, barter exchange and art websites including MarquesV.com, ArtsInAmerica.com, InsiderSeriesBooks.com, DiscountVintages.com and WineScalper.com.

Between 2005-2009, he relocated to the Languedoc region of southern France. He concentrated on his painting and sculptural work while restoring two 19th century stone village residences. His figurative painting, photography and sculptural works have been sold and exhibited internationally since 1986. He re-established his Pacific Coast residence in 2009 and has focused his creative productivity on writing and photography.

His published works span a diverse variety of subjects including true crime, international travel, California wines, architecture, history, Southern France, Pacific Coast attractions, fiction, auctions, fine art marketing, poetry, fiction and photojournalism.

He has two daughters, Charline and Caroline who presently reside in Europe.