OUR STORY

Haviland Church's History

Haviland Friends Church

The pioneering spirit was an important characteristic of the American Quakers (also called Friends). They were farmers who were quick to move across America with other pioneers. Accordingly, B. H. Albertson, Lindley Pitts, Jabez Hall and James Gulley left Indiana for Kansas in early 1884 and arrived at Rose Hill, Kansas in June. Leaving their families in that Quaker settlement, the men traveled in their prairie schooners past the "thriving little town of Wichita" toward unclaimed land farther west. On reaching Dowell (now Wellsford), they learned of available sections beyond and each staked claims northeast of the present site of Haviland. Their families were moved to the farms and letters were written to Indiana urging more Quakers to join the settlement. By 1885, more than twenty-five families had arrived.
Those early settlers felt that a place of worship was of prime importance. The first Sunday School was held in the James Gulley home, an unfinished house 12' square. They next worshipped in the half dugout house of Gurney Mills and later in the B. H. Albertson home, a 13' x 26' board-covered sod house. Here, in 1885, the congregation was organized as Liberty Monthly Meeting of Friends. in 1886, the name was changed to Haviland Monthly Meeting in honor of a Michigan Quaker lady, Laura S. Haviland.
The increasing attendance in homes made it necessary to have a larger meeting house. The planning committee decided the expense was too great for hauling lumber 40 miles from Larned, the nearest railroad, so they chose to build a sod structure. Jabez Hall donated a two-acre plot in the southwest corner of a section one mile north of Haviland. Blocks of buffalo grass sod were cut and laid to form a building 30' x 24' with a door in the south end and two windows on each side. Since meetings were held before the floor or seats were in, boards were placed over bunches of shingles and spring wagon seats were used. With all labor donated, the cost of the building was $68.00. The Sod Church, built in 1885, also served as a school room until 1887.
In 1886, the growing congregation numbered 289 in Sunday School. While some changes had occurred gradually, many services were of the silent, informal type. At an appointed time, people went reverently to their seats for worship. No pastor presided. Until 1908 Haviland Monthly Meeting appointed those of their own fellowship to serve at different times as resident ministers. At the head of the meeting sat ministers and elders. Perhaps a minister would feel "moved" by the Holy Spirit to preach or pray, but never to sing. Sometimes the hour passed in silence. Meetings were dismissed by "timers" who so indicated by standing and shaking hands.
Services continued in the Sod Church until August 1893, when the congregation of 375 had definitely outgrown its earthen walls. Trustees of the newly built Friends Haviland Academy offered use of the second floor of Academy Hall for "First Day and Fourth Day" meetings. The Quakers paid $25.00 yearly rental for this privilege. In 1905 work was begun on a new church on the corner of Kingman and Oak. The white frame church with its attractive architectural design, steeple and bell tower, was completed in 1906. Home L. Cox was the first salaried pastor beginning in 1908.
By 1960, the need for more spacious facilities was evident and a building fund campaign began. In December, 1963, the completion of a new church with full basement provided a large sanctuary, education wing and fellowship hall. It was constructed of concrete block faced with Roman tile and located south of the old building and is still active today. The old frame building was removed and the space made into a parking lot.