Old Runnymede Church - Harper, KS
Posted by: YoSam.
N 37° 17.149 W 098° 01.696
14S E 586137 N 4127022
Today it is called St. James Episcopal Church
Waymark Code: WM10FWW
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 05/01/2019
Views: 2
County of building: Harper County
Location of building: 11th St. & Pine St., Harper
Historic Person connected to this church: Francis J. S. Turnley
Cornerstone laid: 11/28/1889
Architectural Style: Gothic Revival
"The Old Runnymede Church, which was relocated at
Harper, Kansas, is a simple one-story building designed in
early Gothic style. It measures approximately 70 feet in
over-all length and 30 feet in width. Its steeply gabled
roof reaches a height of 20 feet at the ridge. A small
wooden cross rises from the shingled roof ridge near the
west end. The exterior walls are constructed of wood framing covered with narrow lap siding painted gray.
"The idea of building a church was originated by Turnley
some time in the spring of 1888 before his trip to England.
After he returned a meeting was held at which it was announced
that $900 had been promised for the building fund. A charter
was obtained, and the construction contract was awarded to a
Wichita builder named Nixon who was to have the building completed by December 17, 1889. Evidently construction was delayed
because the foundation work was just beginning in mid-November,
1889 and the cornerstone ceremonies were held November 19, 1889,
with the Rev. Dr. A. Beatty of Wellington presiding. The church,
which was named St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, was completed
in February, 1890; at an approximate cost of $1,300. The interior
furnishings, which included the baptismal font and a bronze plaque, were largely imported from England.
"The old Runnymede Church is the only surviving building from
Turnley's unique colony at Runnymede. It is important as a reminder
of those colonists who attempted to bring a bit of England to the
western frontier." ~ NRHP Nomination Form
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