Left: Parish Hall before the rehabilitation work. Right: After rehabilitation (Photograph by Brian Garvey)
Construction on the Gothic revival brick building at 13th and Holmes, where the parish is now located, began in the summer of 1886. The parish hall was completed first and the congregation began worshipping in that space in 1887 while the nave was under construction. The nave was opened in June 1888. Land on which the building was constructed was a bequest of Mary Gillis Troost. Throughout the years, St. Mary’s has ministered to the needs of downtown residents and their children. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the parish operated schools for boys and girls, cared for the poor and, established a mortuary chapel for use by indigent deceased persons and families whose homes would not accommodate pre-funeral visitations.
Urban renewal and the implementation of the interstate roadway system in Kansas City brought drastic change to the community and neighborhood surrounding St. Mary’s Episcopal Church which was fortunately spared from demolition. St. Mary’s today continues the tradition of community outreach programs through their food pantry which gives groceries and a hot lunch for those in need every Saturday. In 2008, Susan Richards Johnson & Associates,
Inc., St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, and JE Dunn Construction Company all helped to prepare a grant application to the William T. Kemper Foundation for the restoration and rehabilitation of the church building. This deserving church received the grant and was able to utilize this funding, along with the generous donations from the community and parishioners, to begin master planning for the parish hall rehabilitation and exterior restoration.
The Parish Hall prior to rehabilitation did not function well for the parish. The space had inadequate restroom facilities, an awkwardly placed stair, and was in need of new interior finishes. The historic plaster was completely missing from the south wall, and there were several campaigns of ceiling systems in disarray. Susan Richards Johnson & Associates, Inc. designed a new stair to the lower level for improved function and circulation in the Parish Hall
space. SRJA also designed new restrooms on the lower level with modern fixtures and finishes and a new pantry for the church’s outreach activities. Additional features included: new interior finishes and cabinetry, new white oak wood flooring, knotty alder wainscot, restored and new plaster finish walls and ceilings, new ADA accessible restroom located near the new basement stairway, new lighting, and upgraded electrical and HVAC systems. The design-build Parish Hall rehabilitation was completed by JE Dunn Construction Company in August of 2010. These improvements provide new opportunities for wedding receptions, community programs, and a refreshment space for St. Mary’s Summerfest patrons who visit the church each summer for the popular classical music concert series. St. Mary’s recently celebrated 150 years of ministry and outreach in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and
through the generous donations and support St. Mary’s has received, the newly rehabilitated Parish Hall will assist in their mission to serve the community well into the future.
The Historic Kansas City Foundation recently awarded the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall Rehabilitation with an Excellence in Rehabilitation Award. Congratulations to all!
