St Peter’s Catholic Church – Meredith

Driving through Miltonvale Kansas it’s hard to miss the St Peter’s Catholic Church where it currently sits out in a field. But it wasn’t always there. In fact it actually came from Meredith Township about 15 minutes away.

The Catholic society of Meredith Township, before this church was built, met at the residences of its members. This was typical of early-day religious organizations while they raised funds for a permanent brick-and-mortar structure. This church was built by a subscription of the congregation that raised $800 to erect it plus donated labor by members.

Father Mickloff was the first Pastor of the church and oversaw its construction. Father Mollier who was a well-known pastor in the area gave the first services. The regular services were conducted by the Glasco and Delphos Parish priests on the fourth Sunday of every month. The church was described as being modern in its appointments and being well-furnished. Miss Mary Richards was in charge of the organ. The original congregation was about twenty-four families including the family of Michal F. Shea, Margaret Ackerman and the Richards.

Originally the cemetery was a public one, once St Peter’s Catholic Church was established they took over the cemetery in 1870. It was then organized as a Catholic cemetery. The twenty acres purchased for the cemetery were from Mr. Murphy.

Over the decades many marriages, baptisms, and funerals were held at the church. Miss Nell Lynch tells of her parents being members of the church, her and all her siblings were baptized there. Her parents, married in 1886, would have liked to get married there but with the church being brand new it did not have any seating so they went to nearby Delphos to tie the knot.

The church had its centennial celebration on May 25, 1986. The whole community was invited out for the event and open house that was held. Mass was held at 4pm and a dinner was catered. Bishop George Fitzsimons of Salina and Monsignor Alfred Wasinger Pastor of the Parish were in charge of the service.

But as the town population declined so did the churches, more funerals than baptisms and weddings were being performed. The tough and difficult decision to close St Peter’s Catholic Church was made and the building became vacant around 1990.

After the church closed Steve Willard purchased the building and moved the building from Meredith Township to just west of Miltonvale around 2002. No one knew what the fate of the church was at the time it was moved to the field it currently sits in. A foundation was built but the church seemed to become forgotten about and continues to return to nature slowly.

A memorial stands at the St Peter’s Catholic Cemetery where the church originally stood that says “THIS MEMORIAL IS A TRIBUTE TO THE PIONEER MEN AND WOMEN WHO SETTLED MEREDITH TOWNSHIP AND BUILT ST. PETER’S CATHOLIC CHURCH” – St. Peter’s Parish Memorial Fund 2013

Gallery Below of St Peter’s Catholic Church – Meredith

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