| Year(s) Listed: • 2024 |
| City/Town: • Independence |
| Location Class: • Church |
| Built: 1872 | Abandoned: 2007 |
| Status: • Abandoned • Endangered |
| Contributor: Abandoned Kansas |
In July 1872, the Church of the Epiphany initially planned to rent City Hall for services but canceled the contract due to financial constraints. They began building a small chapel on August 26th 1872, 20 feet by 40 feet in size. Over the following year, as funds were raised, the congregation met in various public halls. Father Beatty designed a Gothic church for 150 people, built largely by congregation members and consecrated on May 3, 1874.
Financial difficulties plagued the church’s early years, causing clergy turnover. The church closed until 1904, when English immigrants revived it. Reverend George Davidson led the church from 1904, fostering growth with activities like a boys’ choir. By 1923, Epiphany had grown beyond its small church, prompting the purchase of lots at Fourth and Maple Streets for a new Episcopal-style church.
Threatened with demolition, the building was moved out of the downtown area to where it currently sits. In its later years it was used as the DAR Women’s Club and then as the Girl Scouts Little House for years. The window above the entrance sports GS with the Girl Scouts clover. Many of the scouts were even fixing up the building up before a devastating flood in 2007 led the building to become abandoned.
