HISTORY OF ST. MARY’S

1880-1889

In 1880 the Cornwall Mining and Smelting Company donated four building lots in the Rosenthal Addition of Galena for the construction of an Episcopal Church. In May of that same year, the Bishop of Kansas, Rt. Rev. Thomas H. Vail, paid a visit to the area and was surprised to find the church structure was complete. The mission was named St. Mary’s and was consecrated in April of 1881. The church quickly hired its first priest, Rev. William Horsfall. This church served many transplanted Episcopalians from the east, then in Galena to supervise and work in the new mining industry.

1890-1899

In 1890, owners of a large lumber yard and hardware, who were members of St. Mary’s, went on a business trip to New York City and received a used tracker organ from St. Matthew’s’ Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, Long Island, New York for St. Mary’s. The organ was crafted by Jardine and Sons Organ Company of New York in the 1850’s. The organ was shipped from New York to New Orleans, then up the Mississippi to St, Louis, put on a train to Kansas City and then moved to Galena by buckboard. The church held pie suppers and other fund-raisers to procure the funds required for shipping the organ to Galena. When the organ was delivered, a room to house the unique instrument was attached to the north side of the nave of the church. This room also was large enough for a sacristy. St. Mary’s also has from St. Mtthew’s a beautiful chalice, paten and flagon engraved with the year 1890. In 1893 Rev. John Bennett became the priest of St. Mary’s.

1900-1909

In 1902 the priest was Rev. Wellington McVettie.

In 1903 J.C. Ferrier, priest at St. Peter’s in Pittsburg, came at least once a month for six months to hold a Sunday service and stay Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for parochial duties. E. George Noble was senior warden.

Priests for the remainder of the decade:

1904 – 1906 Rev. Charles A. Weed

1906 Rev. W.C. Attnater

1906 – 1907 Rev. R. K. Pooley

1908 – 1910 Rev. Charles A. Weed

In 1901 the treasurer’s report showed a balance of $128. 68.

In 1908 Rev. Weed was paid an additional $5.00 salary for services during Lent.

There were 16 baptisms in this decade.

1910 – 1919

Priests for the decade:

1910-1911 Lay Deacon W.R. Yrkel

1911 – 1912 Rev. A.E. Hawk

1913 – 1915 Rev. F. F. Busch

1916 – 1918 Rev. H. N. Hyde

In 1911 pledges totaled $30.00 per month

In 1911 a telephone was installed in the church.

There were 21 baptisms in this decade.

1920 – 1929

Priests for the decade:

1920 – 1923 Rev. A. G. VanElder

1923 – 1925 Lay Deacon James Clarence Boyce (ordained in 1925)

There were 9 baptisms in this decade.

1931 – 1933

1931 – 1933 Rev. Leonidas Smith

For many of the depression years, St. Mary’s had little or no clergy and few Eucharistic services. They held together though with morning and evening prayer services.

There were 13 baptisms in this decade.

1941-1949

Priests for the decade:

1941 – Rev. Fred Rausch

1944 – Rev. Milton W. Good

1948-1950 – Rev. Willard Kile

In 1946 the parish house was added and later a breezeway covered the 12 foot area between the parish house and the sacristy.

There were 36 baptisms in this decade.

1950 – 1959

Priests for the decade:

1951-1952 - Rev. Fred Rausch

1953 -1956 – Rev. Rev. James David McCallum

1956-1959 – Rev. Rev. David C. Butts

In 1954 there were 54 members of the church, 17 in the Guild and Auxiliary, 15 in Sunday School and 12 in the Young Couples Club.

The Women’s Guild and Auxiliary met the second Monday of the month.

There was an annual church picnic in July.

There were 41 baptisms in this decade.

Father McCallum Father McCallum’s ordination Father McCallum & Bishop Fenner

Gary Kennedy and David Livingston

1960 – 1969

Larry Swan, Bob Scott, Jay Scott

Wedding of Gary and Carol Kennedy with Father Lindemann and Father McCallum

Priests for the decade:

1960 – 1962 – Rev. T. Edward Lindemann

1962 – 1962 – Rev. Thomas Regnary

1964 – 1967 – Rev. Earl Minturn

There were 17 baptisms in this decade.

Confirmation with Bishop Turner

Organist Charlotte Horner with Robin Scott

1970 – 1979

Parish Hall in the 70’s

Lynne Chase Garner Shelley Scott Adams

Priests for the decade:

1972-1974 – Rev. John F. McLaughlin

1978 – 1980 – Rev. Bob McElwee

There were 12 baptisms in this decade.

1980 – 1989

Wedding of Shelley Scott and John Adams 1983

Father Daryl Diamon, officiating

Parish Hall in 1983

Ordination of Richard Frank Grein as seventh Bishop of Kansas

Grace Cathedral, Topeka May 22, 1981

Priests for the decade:

1982-1984 Rev. Daryl Diamond

There were several supply priests who served between 1984 and 1988 including Father Wayne Pontius.

In 1988 St. Mary’s became part of the ALL Saints Nova Cluster which included the churches in Galena, Columbus, Pittsburg and Fort Scott. Also in 1988 Rev. J.W. Stephenson was ordained as a priest. He and the Rev. Gary Gooch served all 4 churches during the life of the cluster.

Father David Murray 1986

In the summer of 1985 a new roof was put on the sacristy and parish house. The exterior of the main building was also repaired and readied for painting.

In August of 1986 the Episcopal Church Youth Group of the Diocese of Kansas painted the church and the sacristy.

In 1987 central heat and air conditioning were added to the church and the antique tracker organ was refurbished under the direction of Jerry Byrd, organist, and Dr. Voleen of P.S.U.

Jerry Byrd was organist at St. Mary’s for many years.

In the summer of 1988 the church began the restoration of its interior and the ceiling of the church was put back to its original likeness which resembles an upside down ark.

In the late 80’s and early 90’s St. Mary’s held a Sunday morning service and a Wednesday Evening Prayer service.

There were 3 baptisms in this decade.

1990 – 1999

The Rev. J.W. Stephenson was the priest for this decade.

The average Sunday attendance was about 30.

St. Mary’s had a team that participated in the Cherokee County Relay for Life for several years.

A Saturday night event called “Saturday Night Alive” was instituted.

There were 8 baptisms in this decade.

Easter 1997

Church dinner with Father Gary Gooch

Colleen Ray with Bishop William Smalley 1992

2000 – 2009

Wedding of Robin Scott and Dan Ellington in 2006

Father J.W. Stephenson, officiating

The Rev. Gary Kennedy was ordained in 2000 and began to serve St. Mary’s along with Rev. J.W. Stephenson on an alternating basis.

In 2005 the antique tracker organ needed additional work and Dr. Ray Willard of Galena and Keith Gottschall of Mid States Pipe Organ Company donated the work to make the organ playable again. It functioned well until 2009 when a thermostat in the church malfunctioned and caused a high level of heat in the sanctuary for a prolonged period of time. This caused damage to the pipes and trackers which were repaired or replaced by Mid States Pipe Organ Company.

Ena Smittle, organist

In this decade the kitchen was completely renovated and the church did a free breakfast program one morning a week for two summers.

Following this, the church began holding dinners for the public with donations accepted. The annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper has been continued throughout several decades.

The church also began collecting school supplies each August to donate to a Galena elementary school.

St. Mary’s sponsored a little league baseball team several summers.

The prayer garden with bird feeders, plants and memorials was established in this decade.

The Sunday School class created the tile entryways to the parish house.

There were 3 baptisms in this decade.

2010 to present

Wedding of Tegan Edwards & Michael Rawlins 2014

Father J.W. Stephenson – grandfather of the bride - officiating

Priests: Rev. J.W. Stephenson (frequently assisted by Rev. Dick McCandless) and Rev. Gary Kennedy.

In 2010 an organ recital was performed at St. Mary’s by Alan Malaby of Wichita to celebrate the restoration of the tracker organ.

From 2013 – 2014 a renovation project provided a second bathroom complete with shower so that the church could be used as a shelter and additional storage space.

Community dinners were continued as well as the school supply program.

The Sunday School class produced a “Welcome to S. Mary’s” DVD.

Social events for the church included ice cream socials, bowling, miniature golf and bunco game nights.

Lenten studies were led by Dr. Becky Brannock and Rev. Dick McCandless.

There were 5 baptisms on Easter, 2014.

St. Mary’s was part of the Historic Holiday Tour for Galena and hosted 100 visitors.

On March 5, 2016 Father J.W. Stephenson passed away of a sudden heart attack. Members of St. Mary’s conducted morning prayer services with eucharist once a month provided by Father Gary Kennedy and Father Dick McCandless.

The Father J memorial columbarium was installed at St. Mary’s in 2016.