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The Old Stone Church

With mouse over picture you see the Old Stone Church Resorted and the new Seneca Free Library.

In July of 1931 the City of Seneca purchased the Old Stone Church and moved their library into this building and from the City Hall and it became "The Seneca Free Library" where it remained until the year 2002. when the new library as built and the Old Stone Church was restored..

The City contracted with AHRS Construction of Bern Kansas in 2001 to restore the Old Stone Church that dates back to the early days of Seneca and also construct a new building for the home of the Seneca Free Library. The new building was attached to the Old Stone Church which is becoming  a community meeting room.

 There were differing opinions as to what could be done with the Old Stone Church as floor was in bad shape and the supports were rotted away and some thought it would be a waste of money and to do more than hall it to the dump. It was said it is only a pile of rock and has lived past it time and should be haled off to make room for the new.

With new supports set under the floor in the crawl space and a new floor,  it is a gem on the Main Street of Seneca. This Old Stone Church was the first church in Seneca and was built well to have survived the first 130 years and now has a new lease on life. It becomes more valuable as time goes on. It is not only a good place to have a meeting but adds much to Seneca's historic charm. It is great to think we thought enough of some of the early settlers and their devotion to religion that we restore their place of worship. May the future generations show as much respect for what he have left them.

The following is taken from "The History of The State of Kansas" written by William G. Cutler's, published in 1883 by A. T. Andreas, Chicago, IL.

Universalist Church. - Preceding the year 1867, Seneca had no church buildings, and no combined or energetic effort had been made toward the erection of any. On April 30th of that year a church meeting, in which all the denominations represented in the community took part, was held to consider the matter of building a church. A previous canvass had resulted in getting subscriptions for the purpose to the amount of $2,050; it being understood that the edifice was to be known as the Presbyterian Church, but was to be used in common by all the denominations. At, or immediately subsequent to this meeting, the Universalists offered to pledge $1,600 additional to the $2,000 already subscribed, if the previous subscription should be transferred to them, and consent given that the name 'Universalist' should be substituted for 'Presbyterian,' the church to be used by all, but to be the property of the former organization, when instituted. To this proposition to the Presbyterians and others freely consented, and a new subscription paper was drawn in accordance with the above conditions.

On May 2, the Universalists met and organized their society, electing five trustees, as follows: C. G. Scrafford, J. H. Peckham, William Histed, J. P. Taylor and D. B. McKay. During the same month a contract was let for the erection of a church building, and a site purchased on the south side of Main street, in an excellent location. On October 20, 1867, the stone work was completed, and on January 1, 1868, the building occupied for the first time, the occasion being a donation offered to Mr. Ballou, the Universalists pastor. Soon after, this work was temporarily suspended for lack of funds, the edifice not being altogether finished until nearly eighteen months later.

The first services in the church were held July 17, 1869, Rev. G. W. Skinner, of Leavenworth, preaching morning and evening, since which time, and until very recently, it has been used by the Methodists, Baptists and Congregationalists in common with the organization owning it. The building is of stone, is 39x55 feet in size, thirty-two feet from foundation to gable, with a belfry thirty feet in height additional. It is lighted by size windows, and is, altogether, a commodious and handsome edifice. Its entire cost was about $7,500.

The pastorate of the Universalist organization has been occupied successively by Rev. J. H. Ballou, Rev. R. M. Bartlett, Rev. A. Barnes, Rev. Joseph Wilson, and lastly by Rev. J. F. Rhodes, who has filled the position satisfactorily since. The church membership is about fifty.

Following from  the 1938 Courier Tribune files at the Seneca Free Library

Seneca has one original churches still standing, the old stone church, the pioneer Universalist Church build in 1866'.This church. The Universalist  Church became the Seneca Free Library in July of 1931, after the Universalist society had been dissolved several years.

In July of 1931 the City of Seneca purchased the Old Stone Church and moved their library   into this building and from the City Hall and it became "The Seneca Free Library" where it remained  until the  year 2002.  when the new library was built. 

The City contracted with AHRS  Construction of Bern Kansas in 2001 to restore the old church building and also construct a new building for the home of the Seneca Free Library.  The new building was attached to the Old Stone Church which becoming  the  community meeting room.    

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