Leadership of Emporia’s First Christian Church calls the recent sale of the church property a “time of rebirth and growth.”
That was the message from Church Chair of the Trustees Carl Richardson in an interview with KVOE News Wednesday afternoon, just hours after it was announced that the Emporia State Foundation was acquiring the property at 202 West 12th Avenue.
When asked what led to this decision, Richardson stated the building was “getting to be too much to handle.” Trustees Moderator Marie Hammond clarified that the church’s congregation has become much smaller and does not require such a large space.
What this means for the congregation short-term, according to Richardson, is a temporary relocation to the Emporia Presbyterian Church West Campus at 1702 West 15th.
Long-term, Richardson says the church is currently searching for a new permanent home.
In addition to the congregation, Boy Scouts Troop 157, which has long operated out of the church building, will be moving on with the congregation. With the move upcoming, the church is hosting a pair of sales for furniture, kitchen items, toys and much more next month, May 9-10 and May 16- 17th.
This is not the first time the Church has moved locations in its existence. In fact, the church, which is the oldest in Emporia, having been established in 1856 by Solomon G. Brown, has had three different locations and four different buildings since its founding. The original church building was constructed in 1859 at 7th and Exchange before that building was sold in 1883 to make way for a new building at the same location.
The third iteration of the church was constructed in 1904 and dedicated in 1907 at 7th and Market and was occupied up until 1956 when the current building was erected.
Church leadership was unable to provide any information on the Foundation’s plans for the property. KVOE News has reached out to Foundation Director Jason Drummond for comment.
11:00 am Wednesday: Moving sale coming in May for Emporia’s First Christian Church with Emporia State University Foundation in the process of purchasing the property
Emporia’s First Christian Church is set to have a new owner later this year.
KVOE News was informed of a potential sale of the church, located at 202 East 12th Avenue, to Emporia State University Foundation. ESU confirmed the sale is happening and may be completed by June.
In the meantime, the church will hold a “moving sale” in May. The sale will take place over two weekends, May 9th and 10th, and again May 16th and 17th.
KVOE News has reached out to both the church and the ESU Foundation for additional details and comments on the pending sale. Stay with KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media for more information and updates as they develop.
First Christian Church was first organized in 1856 by Solomon G. Brown and pre-dates the township of Emporia, which was established in 1857. First Christian Church has had three locations and four buildings in the community since its inception, including the original building constructed at 7th and Exchange in 1859.
The building was sold and moved in 1883 to make way for a new building at the same location. The third iteration of the church was constructed in 1904 and dedicated in 1907 at 7th and Market and was used up until 1956 when the current building was erected at 12th and Market.
