Click here to read an article from The Living Church dated July 2, 2000, which discusses Fr. Jardine and the lore surrounding his alleged haunting of the parish.
Click here to access the St. Mary's Archives at the Kansas City Public Library.
Click here to access the St. Mary's Archives at the Kansas City Public Library.
St. Mary’s was founded in 1854 with the original name St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and was officially incorporated in 1857. The St. Luke’s congregation built its first official building at 8th and Walnut streets in 1867 where the Hampton Inn now stands. In 1872, Mary Troost, a wealthy supporter of the Church, deeded land at 13th and Holmes to the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri for a new building with the stipulation that St. Luke's parish change its patronage to that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The current church building was built on that land in the neo-Gothic style and was completed in 1887.
During the 19th century, St. Mary’s operated schools for boys and girls in downtown Kansas City. Members of the parish were instrumental in the founding of All Saints Hospital in the River Market Area which eventually grew to become St. Luke’s Health System, with our bishop serving as chairman of its Board of Directors, even to this day. The parish operated a hunger relief and health care mission serving the working poor in the West Bottoms.
The parish’s commitment to care for the poor continued into the 20th century as the surrounding neighborhood began to change. In the late 1950s, the urban renewal movement and plans for a new downtown freeway caused nearly all of the existing buildings on the east side of downtown to be demolished. The church building had deteriorated. The roof and exterior masonry were structurally unsound and the building was slated for demolition. A grant from the David Woods Kemper Foundation supported repairs to restore its structural integrity. Since then, St. Mary's has been lovingly referred to by some as "Our Lady of the Freeway."
St. George’s Episcopal Church, which eventually became part of St. Mary’s, was started in 1891 at 32nd St. and Troost Ave. St. George’s occupied several other buildings, including one at Linwood and Paseo that burned down in 1954, until they formed a partnership with St. Mary’s that allowed them the use of their building. Bishop Arthur Vogel officially dissolved St. George’s Church in February 1989 and allowed the congregation to transfer membership to St. Mary’s.
Through the latter part of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st, St. Mary’s has continued to reach out to the community through its hunger relief and fine arts programs. The church building is the base of operations for Downtown Outreach which distributes groceries to those in need, and serves as an important concert venue for the Kansas City classical music community.
In 2009, St. Mary’s began a capital campaign for restoration and renovation of the building. Over $1 million in improvements were made from 2010-2016. Since 2014, our community has grown little by little from an average Sunday attendance below 50 to over 90 (as of June 2019).
Our tradition of welcoming all who come through our doors as well as reaching out to those beyond our walls continues, now, in the second century of our service to Kansas City. From beautiful architecture to ancient liturgical customs, we continue to seek to lead sinners to a loving God through the Anglo-catholic tradition we've received from our forebears so long ago. St. Mary's is a beacon of hope and healing in a broken and weary world, offering a safe and loving community to all.
During the 19th century, St. Mary’s operated schools for boys and girls in downtown Kansas City. Members of the parish were instrumental in the founding of All Saints Hospital in the River Market Area which eventually grew to become St. Luke’s Health System, with our bishop serving as chairman of its Board of Directors, even to this day. The parish operated a hunger relief and health care mission serving the working poor in the West Bottoms.
The parish’s commitment to care for the poor continued into the 20th century as the surrounding neighborhood began to change. In the late 1950s, the urban renewal movement and plans for a new downtown freeway caused nearly all of the existing buildings on the east side of downtown to be demolished. The church building had deteriorated. The roof and exterior masonry were structurally unsound and the building was slated for demolition. A grant from the David Woods Kemper Foundation supported repairs to restore its structural integrity. Since then, St. Mary's has been lovingly referred to by some as "Our Lady of the Freeway."
St. George’s Episcopal Church, which eventually became part of St. Mary’s, was started in 1891 at 32nd St. and Troost Ave. St. George’s occupied several other buildings, including one at Linwood and Paseo that burned down in 1954, until they formed a partnership with St. Mary’s that allowed them the use of their building. Bishop Arthur Vogel officially dissolved St. George’s Church in February 1989 and allowed the congregation to transfer membership to St. Mary’s.
Through the latter part of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st, St. Mary’s has continued to reach out to the community through its hunger relief and fine arts programs. The church building is the base of operations for Downtown Outreach which distributes groceries to those in need, and serves as an important concert venue for the Kansas City classical music community.
In 2009, St. Mary’s began a capital campaign for restoration and renovation of the building. Over $1 million in improvements were made from 2010-2016. Since 2014, our community has grown little by little from an average Sunday attendance below 50 to over 90 (as of June 2019).
Our tradition of welcoming all who come through our doors as well as reaching out to those beyond our walls continues, now, in the second century of our service to Kansas City. From beautiful architecture to ancient liturgical customs, we continue to seek to lead sinners to a loving God through the Anglo-catholic tradition we've received from our forebears so long ago. St. Mary's is a beacon of hope and healing in a broken and weary world, offering a safe and loving community to all.
To the Glory of God and in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Mary's is a parish of the Diocese of West Missouri, The Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion.
Address1307 Holmes Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64106 |
Telephone |
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