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The First Building
The first church building was of brick and was first occupied in 1876, but not completed until 1883. Rev. F. M. Sisson was appointed to Independence in 1883. The historical record reports that he was successful in finishing the church and “left considerable debt for his successors to worry over. He was very popular, generally, but never fell in love with Independence.” He left after a year and a half. He was followed by Rev. J. B. Ford, and a year later, by Rev. A. Cullison, in 1886, “to the disgust of some of Ford’s admirers” according C. R. Rice.
“The writer (Rev. Rice) knows nothing of the merits or rather, demerits, of the quarrel that raged for a year, but Cullison succeeded in doing a good deal of hard work. The congregation ran down during the year and has never finally gathered since.” The following year, Rev. Rice was appointed to Independence. He “found a disaffected, scattered people. Letting the past alone, he proceeded to the work of gathering up the scattered ones very quietly. The year 1887-88 passed without a quarrel except a little eruption in the choir. No great thing was done. Many people moved away from Independence, hunting employment.” In 1890, a union meeting was held at which Major Cole preached. Sixty-four persons were received as probationary members.
Rev. J. M. Mason was appointed to Independence in 1903. An item in the March 18, 1903, South Kansas Tribune reports revival meetings lasting 16 weeks which resulted in more than 250 conversions and 150 members added to the congregation. Rev. Mason’s salary was increased to $1,200 and all benevolences were paid. The membership pledged $5,000 to the remodeling of the church building, completed just twenty years earlier. An extension measuring 18 by 48 feet was added to the north side to house the Brotherhood of St. Paul. A bay for the pulpit platform was added to the south. The building was rededicated on October 25, 1903.
The congregation owned three parsonages before purchasing land at 211 South 6th Street in 1907. A parsonage was completed on that property in August 1908. The building committee included G. W. Bowen, A. F. Johnson, J. M. Gasaway, J. M. Jacoby and Charles Yoe.
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Prayer changes things!