Kansas History and Heritage Project--Finney County Churches

Finney County Churches
Garden City Congregational Church

From "Conquest of Southwest Kansas," Leola Howard Blanchard, 1931

Garden City was first determined upon as a place for a permanent town by William D. and James R. Fulton, who were also the first residents of this place. They came here in March, 1878. The town continued to have a gradual growth, and sometime in the winter of 1878 and '79, Elder Spencer of Sherlock, Kansas, held a religious service, preaching a sermon. This was the first and only service until Rev. W. D. Williams of Sterling, Kansas, visited the place May 18, 1879. Preaching services were held morning and evening and a Union Sabbath school was organized in the afternoon. The attendance was so large and the interest so manifest that it was deemed expedient to continue religious services, and Rev. Williams announced that he would visit them again in three weeks. The services were held in the Landis and Hollinger store building, which was so nearly finished that by boarding up the front doors and arranging the work benches, and making temporary sittings of the lumber scattered around the building, the room was as comfortable as it was commodious.

Levi Wilkinson and W. H. Armentrout were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws, which they did on June 15, 1879, and on August 4, of the same year, the organization was completed with twenty-seven charter members from five different denominations. Permanent officers of the Congregational Church were elected. Rev. W. D. Williams, moderator; J. E. Edwards, Frank Rhoades, deacons; Levi Wilkinson, clerk; W. H. Armentrout, George Rock and C. M. Walters, trustees.

Rev. L. H. Piatt was the first pastor of the new church, and began his pastorate November 15, 1879, and continued as pastor until July, 1884. For the first three years the services were held in the hall over Landis and Hollinger's store. During those first years they received from the Home Mission fund $300.00 a year and the same amount was supposed to be contributed by the local members for the support of the church.

The church was the social center of the community. For some time they had the advantage of a travelling library, and were supplied with good books and literature. An organ was furnished by C. J. Jones and the organist was a woman with exceptional musical ability and training. D. R. Menke played the violin and instructed George Finnup and other boys of the town. The town has never had a better song leader than Levi Wilkinson. He had a fine tenor voice and he loved to sing. He taught the children and led the young people in many splendid song services. There were special programs, and organizations for the women. The work of every department was carried on with interest and efficiency. N. M. Carter was the superintendent of the Sunday School and was a faithful worker. The attendance at all the church services was nearly 100% of the population of the community. Everybody who was able to be up, went to church. Business men, housewives, old and young, and the cowboys from far out on the range. The pioneers of Finney county were an educated, ambitious people, and they sought for the same culture in their new homes that they were accustomed to in the home towns they had left in the east.

The records of the church for July l0, 1881, show that a request be made of the Congregational Building Fund Society for a loan to build a church, and during the year 1882 the first church building in Garden City was built at the corner of Eighth and Fulton Streets.

The following is the list of pastors as they have served the church: Rev. L. H. Piatt, Nov. 15, 1879, July, 1884; Rev. Homer Thrall, Rev. Samuel Wood, Rev. Layman Hull, Nov. 5, 1889, Nov. 1897. Charles N. Severance, Nov. 1897. W. F. Harding, J. A. Henry, W. E. Brehm, F. B. Bates, L. C. Schnache, and H. O. Judd. Mr. Judd has been laboring faithfully for the church since the first Sunday in February, 1915.

The Charter members of the First Congregational Church August 4, 1879: J. S. Edwards, Mrs. Mary Edwards, Levi Wilkinson, J. C. Smith, Mrs. Rebecca Smith, John Creveling, Chas. Creveling, Elizabeth Knittle, Mrs. Kate Hall, Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, Frank Rhodes, Mrs. Maggie Stapleton, W. H. Armentrout, Mrs. W. H. Armentrout, Anna Armentrout, George Rock, Clarence McLaughlin, Wilber Elliott, Henry W. Crow, Mrs. Sallie Crow, J. B. Smith, Dora Smith, R. N. Hall, Martin J. Smith.

Return to Finney Co. KHHP