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 OLDEST -- Continuously Occupied Church in Emporia Posted by:  iconions
N 38° 24.458 W 096° 10.796
14S E 746240 N 4254810
This two-story limestone Gothic Revival building is located at 802 N Commercial in Emporia, Kansas.
Waymark Code: WM12DWV
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 05/07/2020
Views: 0
Emporia Presbyterian Church is the oldest continuously occupied church in Emporia. It was founded November 20, 1877
- Emporia Presbyterian Church Facebook Page
Along with 12 charter members, the Reverend James Gordon organized the First Presbyterian Church of Emporia on November 7, 1867. The congregation resided in the general area of 8th and Commercial Streets until the building that still stands at 802 Commercial Street was built in 1897.
Throughout the 1850’s a number of Welsh immigrants settled in the Emporia area and many of them sought a church home upon their arrival. In 1858 they began worshiping at the log cabin home of Mr. & Mrs. Edward Edwards and in 1860 they began worshiping as Union Church that met in a log church constructed on the Edwards farm. In 1870, the Reverend John Jones, along with 34 charter members, organized the church into the Tabernacle, which was a Calvinistic Methodist congregation located at 4th and Market. The building was destroyed by fire in 1872, and the Second Presbyterian Church emerged from the ashes at the same location. In 1904, Second Presbyterian rebuilt their building in the same location after it was destroyed by wind. In 1958, Second Presbyterian Church merged with United Presbyterian Church that was located at 6th and Neosho. The merged congregation was renamed Westminster United Presbyterian Church and continued to worship at 4th and Market until a new building was constructed at 1702 West 15th Avenue in 1967.
In January 2007, Westminster United Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of Emporia were merged into a single congregation. The congregation renamed itself the Emporia Presbyterian Church. Renovations in the Downtown sanctuary took place during 2011-2012 to enlarge the pulpit area, choir loft and to widen the length between each pew. During the construction phase, worship service was held at the West Campus.
Emporia Presbyterian Church continues to use both of its properties for the mission of Jesus Christ in and around Emporia, Kansas. Regular Sunday worship and weekday office hours are held at the Downtown Campus, while community outreach, fellowship events, special worship services, and weekly youth group are held at the West Campus.
- Emporia Presbyterian Church Website
First Presbyterian Church Status: Contributing
Address: 802 N COMMERCIAL ST
Date of Construction: 1895 (Estimated)
Parcel ID: 192-10-0-40-22-003.00-0
Historic Function: Religion - Religious Facility
Current Function: Religion - Religious Facility
Architectural Classification: Gothic Revival
Description:
This limestone church building occupies a corner lot and has a highly complex roof and irregular plan. The central block is cross-gabled with a raised central dome at the ridge intersection. Engaged square towers, each with pyramidal hipped roofs, occur at each end of the primary (west) elevation. The north tower is two stories in height while the south tower rises three stories. An engaged round tower with conical roof is at the rear (east) end of the south side elevation and a gabled wing projects from the rear (east) end of the north elevation. The main entrance is in the center bay of the primary (west) elevation, sheltered by a recessed porch characterized by pointed arch openings. Additional historic character-defining features include: the parapeted gables; the asymmetrical fenestration; the variable stone unit sizes; the rectangular leaded glass windows that occur singly and in groups of three; the large, leaded rose windows set within pointed arches on each upper gable wall; and the large leaded glass, pointed arch window groups in the north elevation. A mid-twentieth century two-story, flat-roof addition extends from the east end of the north elevation.
History:
There was a Presbyterian Church on this corner by 1884. The current building, built in 1897 from plans by Charles W. Squires, appears to have incorporated the original building (Sachs and Ehrlich, 109). It remained in 1929 and 1946. The education addition on the northeast corner post-dates 1946.
Integrity:
Although the building has evolved over time, this building has a high degree of architectural integrity from the period of significance. It is classified as a contributor.
- National Register Application
Type of documentation of superlative status: website
Location of coordinates: Front of building
Web Site: [Web Link]
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