Plymouth Congregational Church (Lawrence, Kansas)
Encyclopedia
Plymouth Congregational Church of Lawrence, Kansas
is an affiliate of the United Church of Christ
that was established in 1854, months after the Territory of Kansas
was opened to settlement. The present-day church building, built in 1870, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The architect was John G. Haskell
who was among the architects of the Kansas State Capitol
.
was sent by the American Home Missionary Society to establish what was to become the first church in the new city of Lawrence
and the entire Kansas Territory
. Prior to his arrival, sermon readings were conducted by laymen
. The first service of Plymouth Congregational Church was held by Lum on October 1, 1854 in a mudbrick
boarding house
, also called the "hay tent," with settlers who had come from New England
.
Reverend Richard Cordley became pastor in 1857, when the congregation moved into its first permanent building, called the "Stone Church," though it was not completed until 1862. Cordley was an abolitionist
and supported the free state movement. During the American Civil War
, several members were killed by pro-Confederate
forces led by William Quantrill
in the Lawrence Massacre of 1863. Cordley's home was burned, but the church building survived without damage. Cordley was influential in documenting such events in the early settlement of Kansas.
. Services have been held regularly in the building since 1870. In 1916, the "Parish House" was added to the structure under then-Pastor Noble Elderkin. It was damaged by fire in 1955, but rebuilt and expanded. Additional renovation
work was carried out to different parts of the church in 1992 and 2001.
On July 16, 2009, the building was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places by the Kansas Historical Society
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on September 2, 2009. The building's architectural style is described as "an eclectic Victorian
-era church building with Gothic
and Romanesque Revival
characteristics."
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
is an affiliate of the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
that was established in 1854, months after the Territory of Kansas
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
was opened to settlement. The present-day church building, built in 1870, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The architect was John G. Haskell
John G. Haskell
John Gideon Haskell is an architect who designed portions of the Kansas State Capitol and other public buildings in the state....
who was among the architects of the Kansas State Capitol
Kansas State Capitol
The Kansas State Capitol, known also as the Kansas Statehouse, is the building housing the executive and legislative branches of government for the U.S. state of Kansas. It is located in the city of Topeka which has served as the capital of Kansas since it became a state in 1861...
.
History
The Territory of Kansas was opened to settlement by the Kansas–Nebraska Act on May 30, 1854. Reverend Samuel Y. Lum of Middletown, New YorkMiddletown, Orange County, New York
Middletown is a city in Orange County, New York, United States. It lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. The city's population was 25,388 at the 2000 census...
was sent by the American Home Missionary Society to establish what was to become the first church in the new city of Lawrence
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
and the entire Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
. Prior to his arrival, sermon readings were conducted by laymen
Layman
A layperson or layman is a person who is not an expert in a given field of knowledge. The term originally meant a member of the laity, i.e. a non-clergymen, but over the centuries shifted in definition....
. The first service of Plymouth Congregational Church was held by Lum on October 1, 1854 in a mudbrick
Mudbrick
A mudbrick is a firefree brick, made of a mixture of clay, mud, sand, and water mixed with a binding material such as rice husks or straw. They use a stiff mixture and let them dry in the sun for 25 days....
boarding house
Boarding house
A boarding house, is a house in which lodgers rent one or more rooms for one or more nights, and sometimes for extended periods of weeks, months and years. The common parts of the house are maintained, and some services, such as laundry and cleaning, may be supplied. They normally provide "bed...
, also called the "hay tent," with settlers who had come from New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
.
Reverend Richard Cordley became pastor in 1857, when the congregation moved into its first permanent building, called the "Stone Church," though it was not completed until 1862. Cordley was an abolitionist
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
and supported the free state movement. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, several members were killed by pro-Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
forces led by William Quantrill
William Quantrill
William Clarke Quantrill was a Confederate guerrilla leader during the American Civil War. After leading a Confederate bushwhacker unit along the Missouri-Kansas border in the early 1860s, which included the infamous raid and sacking of Lawrence, Kansas in 1863, Quantrill eventually ended up in...
in the Lawrence Massacre of 1863. Cordley's home was burned, but the church building survived without damage. Cordley was influential in documenting such events in the early settlement of Kansas.
The Brick Church
The present-day building, also called "The Brick Church," was designed by architect John G. Haskell, who also worked on other churches, schools, and the Kansas State Courthouse. Construction began in 1868 and was completed in May 1870 at a cost of $45,000. The sanctuary windows were made in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Services have been held regularly in the building since 1870. In 1916, the "Parish House" was added to the structure under then-Pastor Noble Elderkin. It was damaged by fire in 1955, but rebuilt and expanded. Additional renovation
Renovation
Renovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes...
work was carried out to different parts of the church in 1992 and 2001.
On July 16, 2009, the building was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places by the Kansas Historical Society
Kansas Historical Society
The Kansas Historical Society is the official state historical society of Kansas.Headquartered in Topeka, it operates as "the trustee of the state" for the purpose of maintaining the state's history and operates the Kansas Museum of History, Kansas State Archives and Library, Kansas State Capitol...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on September 2, 2009. The building's architectural style is described as "an eclectic Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
-era church building with Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
and Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
characteristics."
Notable members
- Alan MulallyAlan MulallyAlan Roger Mulally is an American engineer and business executive who is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company...
- The president of the Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
called the late Rev. Dale Turner "a mentor and an inspiration." Turner, who later moved to the University Congregational United Church of Christ in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, stayed in contact with Mulally, who also moved to the city to work at BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
.
External links
- Plymouth Congregational Church website
- The Lawrence Massacre by Richard Cordley, D.D. (1865)
- A History of Lawrence, Kansas by Richard Cordley, D.D. (1895)
- Pioneer Days in Kansas by Richard Cordley, D.D. (1903)