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Remodeling and Additions in 1925

After the addition in 1925, the altar was relocated to the northwest wall and the sanctuary ran parallel to Haskell. An additional gable was placed on the northwest side and the “Agony at Gethsemane” window along with 11 other stained glass windows were relocated to that wall. In all, there are now 26 small stained-glass windows and three large stained glass windows in the sanctuary. A Kimball pipe organ also was added behind the altar in 1925 (later restored in July, 1984) and its pipes are located behind the choir loft.

In 1925, the pastor Dr. S. W. Williams commissioned the architect T. J. Galbraith to design the remodeling of the sanctuary and the addition of the educational unit at a cost of $85,000. The addition was on the northwest side of the church. The third tracery window was moved and a tower was added.

Rendering of proposed additions, circa 1925

The Sanctuary. The initial layout of the rectangular-shaped church in 1903 had the fellowship hall on the northeast end of the building and the sanctuary on the southwest end. In the sanctuary, the altar was in one corner with circular seating, i.e. with the pews fanning out in two sections. At that time, there were three three-paneled quatrefoil tracery stained-glass windows in projecting gables: “The Marys at the Tomb” when the Resurrection was declared by the angel, located in the southwest wall dormer, “The Good Shepherd” on the southeast wall dormer, and “the Agony at Gethsemane” located on the northwest wall. In all, there are now 26 small stained-glass windows and three large stained glass windows in the sanctuary. A Kimball pipe organ also was added behind the altar in 1925 (later restored in July, 1984) and its pipes are located behind the choir loft.

Picture of the restored sanctuary, altar, and choir Loft. This picture is a view of the present-day sanctuary showing the addition and the 1925 Kimball Pipe Organ on the choir loft with the pipes located behind the grill.

"The Marys at the Tomb". A stained glass window in the sanctuary made at the Kansas City Stained Glass Studio.

The Brotherhood Hall. In 1903 the hall adjacent to the sanctuary was the Brotherhood Hall. Classrooms for the ladies group Peacemakers and the married couples class were located on the first floor along with the pastor’s office. On the balcony were the intermediate classrooms. In the classrooms were stained-glass windows which were paid for by the individual classes, generally costing $15.00 each. With the addition of the northwest section in 1925, the Brotherhood Hall was divided into classrooms and sometimes used as a food pantry and clothes closet (a location for clothes donations). The junior and senior high school students had classrooms in unattached “shacks”.

The Lower Level. On the lower level beneath the original building was the cradle roll (the nursery), the junior classrooms (kindergarten through 3rd grade), and the restrooms. With the new section, a large kitchen and fellowship hall were added.

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