Plymouth Congregational Church (Lawrence, Kansas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Plymouth Congregational Church
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The church in 2011
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 Location in Kansas
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| Location | Lawrence, Kansas |
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| Built | 1868-1870 |
| Architect | John G. Haskell |
| Architectural style | Victorian with Gothic and Romanesque Revival characteristics |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000674 |
| Added to NRHP | September 2, 2009 |
The Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence, Kansas, is part of the United Church of Christ. It was founded in 1854, soon after the Kansas Territory was opened for people to settle there. The church building you see today was built in 1870. It is so important that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The famous architect John G. Haskell, who also helped design the Kansas State Capitol, designed this church.
History of Plymouth Church
The Kansas Territory was opened for settlement by a law called the Kansas–Nebraska Act on May 30, 1854. Reverend Samuel Y. Lum was sent to start the first church in the new city of Lawrence, Kansas. Before he arrived, regular church members led sermon readings.
The first service of Plymouth Congregational Church was held by Reverend Lum on October 1, 1854. It took place in a simple mudbrick boarding house with settlers from New England.
Reverend Richard Cordley became the church's pastor in 1857. The church members moved into their first permanent building, known as the "Stone Church." This building was not fully finished until 1862. Reverend Cordley was an abolitionist. This meant he strongly supported ending slavery. He also backed the "free state" movement, which wanted Kansas to be a state where slavery was not allowed.
During the American Civil War, some church members were killed. This happened during the Lawrence Massacre of 1863. Forces against the "free state" movement, led by William Quantrill, caused this event. Reverend Cordley's home was burned, but the church building itself was not damaged. Cordley was important for writing down what happened during these early times in Kansas.
The Brick Church Building
The church building used today is often called "The Brick Church." It was designed by architect John G. Haskell. He also designed other churches, schools, and the Kansas State Courthouse. Construction started in 1868 and finished in May 1870. It cost about $45,000 to build. The beautiful windows in the main worship area were made in England. Services have been held regularly in this building since 1870.
In 1916, a part called the "Parish House" was added to the church. This happened when Noble Elderkin was the pastor. A fire damaged it in 1955, but it was rebuilt and made larger. More updates and repairs were done to different parts of the church in 1992 and 2001.
On July 16, 2009, the church building was suggested for the National Register of Historic Places. This was done by the Kansas Historical Society. It was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 2, 2009. The building's style is a mix of Victorian architecture with some Gothic architecture and Romanesque Revival architecture features.
Important Church Members
Many notable people have been members of Plymouth Congregational Church:
- Barbara Ballard – She has been a member of the Kansas House of Representatives since 1993. This means she helps make laws for the state of Kansas.
- Paul Davis – He was also a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 2009 to 2015. He was a candidate for governor of Kansas in 2014.
- Tom Holland – He has been a member of the Kansas Senate since 2009. He also ran for governor of Kansas in 2010.
- Alan Mulally – He was the president of the Ford Motor Company. He said that the late Reverend Dale Turner, a former pastor, was a "mentor and an inspiration" to him. Reverend Turner later moved to a church in Seattle, Washington. He stayed in touch with Mulally, who also moved to Seattle to work at Boeing.
See also
