This Fascinating Kansas Church Has Been Abandoned And Reclaimed By Nature For Decades Now
By Lisa Sammons|Published March 08, 2023
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Lisa Sammons
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Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue and live music - traveling across the country to see a favorite band is a pretty regular occurrence! Being out hiking in the woods enjoying the scenery with her beloved dogs is another favorite hobby, and also checking out the Pokemon Go scene in whatever city she happens to be in at any given time (coffee and dog leash in hand). You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
We have no shortage of beautiful churches in Kansas. The state may not be as old as many others in the Union, but we still have plenty of history, and you can find lots of gorgeous old places of worship filled with history in the Sunflower State. One that has a particularly fascinating history is the St. Aloysius Church in Greenbush. This church may no longer be an active place of worship, but it’s now a historic site with quite the story to tell.
In 1869, a Jesuit missionary named Father Colleton was traveling across the bleak Kansas prairie when he was caught in a terrible storm. Fearing for his life as he huddled under bushes and his saddle, he swore that if he survived the ordeal, he would build a church at the site.
A few years later, he made good on that promise when he built St. Aloysius Church. The original building was a simple wooden church, and it was destroyed in a storm in 1877. A replacement church was completed in 1881.
As the land became more settled, the parish quickly outgrew the small limestone building and a third church building was built in 1907. This church was much larger, with a cross that reached 125 feet up into the air.
In August 1982, the church was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire. Up to this point, the second church (built in 1881) had been used as a classroom and gathering place, but it was now converted back into a church - essentially making it the fourth church at this site!
The remnants of the 1907 church were left standing, and in 1993, the parish officially closed down. The site is now maintained by the St. Aloysius Historical Society.
A grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary was erected in 2014. There may not be a practicing church here any longer, but it's a beautiful place where many can still find peace.
Have you ever heard of the church(es) of St. Aloysius in Kansas? For more information about the history of this place, check out the Saint Aloysius Historical Society website.
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