First Christian Church of Independence

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Church architecture
 
The 1908 church was designed by John F. Felt, a well-known Kansas City architect, who four years earlier became publisher of Modern Architecture magazine.

The design featured massive Doric porch columns that supported the pediment. The building was essentially square, though the gable roof left the impression that the church was designed in the form of a Greek cross. The center of the church supported a large dome.

Construction began in August 1907 and the cornerstone was laid on March 8, 1908. The church had a cooper dome 57 feet high and a 400-seat sanctuary.
 
The church burned in a fire and was rebuilt on the same site based on new plans drawn up by Felt. The budget for the new church was $100,000, double the cost of the 1908 building, due to the scarity of building materials post World War I.
 
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Church fire

 

The church, less than 10 years old, tragically burned in February 1918 from a heating stove that had been stoked to ward off the cold.

 

The fire department was slow to respond, understaffed and inadequate water pressure resulted in a near total destruction of the church.

 

Within months, the congregation began talking about rebuilding. Read the July 1918 brochure used in the congregation to raise the funds to rebuild the church including floor plans, pledge drive and information on the function and purpose of the rebuilt structure.

 

The campaign slogan was "WE CAN IF WE WILL."

 

Read the brochure


The reconstructed church was completed in 1926.