St. Boniface Church and Cemetery is located in Scipio, KS, a small hamlet between the cities of Richmond and Garnett, and two miles east of Highway 59. This Catholic church with its 160′ copper steeple and stained glass windows is unusually large for a country church, and also has an equal length rear ‘L’ wing which is currently a combined rectory and retreat. At one time, this two-story limestone wing was a monastery for 25 Carmelite friars, who built the current limestone church and who farmed/landscaped up to 600 acres around it.
original church
In the mid-1850s, a handful of Jesuit missionaries served Native Americans in eastern Kansas. And then, against the wishes of these missionaries, these natives were moved further south. At about the same time, numerous immigrants occupied agricultural land in the Scipio region, most of them German Catholics.
Because the Scipio group wanted their own church, two prominent members of this community convinced the bishop in Leavenworth to have their own priest. Instead, they got a visiting missionary once a month. However, because their unannounced visits did not go well, they again convinced the bishop, who paid them a visit. After seeing the nearly 40 families dedicated to faith and media who live there, he assigned them a permanent priest.
The community then built a small log house and church for its new resident priest on 20 acres of donated land. It was dedicated in the spring of 1859. St. Boniface would be the only Catholic church in Anderson County for 25 years. However, this situation would change over time as the general picture around it developed.
getting over it
In 1865, Saint Boniface was handed over to the Carmelite Order, a large order of friars with German roots. This Order gave the parish a huge boost in membership. In 1869, the railroad came close. By the 1870s, the parish’s log church had outgrown its size, which was also damaged by a prairie fire. With more families in the parish now, plans were started for a new church on top of the hill, west of the log one.
In 1873, its head friar ordered the construction of a log-frame Carmelite monastery that would also serve as Mt Carmel College parallel to what would later become the current church. For a time, church services would be held within this framework of the monastery, while the new church was being built.
Eventually, this future construction arrangement would give the entire facility a large ‘U’ shape facing west when completed. Construction continued with a one-room parish school, a community hall, and an Ursuline Sisters house to the north of the proposed church. Meanwhile, friars and laymen with stonemasonry skills carved and stored their own limestone blocks for the planned 1881-built church. Its first stone was laid in 1882.
By this time, the Carmelites had increased their land holdings to 600 acres. The brothers cultivated/cared for a garden, which included a 10-acre vineyard and winery. They also built a huge rectangular red barn and sheds for dairy cows, cattle, hay, grain storage, and equipment. No doubt they had a smokehouse and places to butcher, can, and wash clothes.
times have changed
Because the township surrounding Scipio is on a country road between Highways 59 and 169, it was never incorporated. Only a few houses remain there today. Other Catholic churches sprang up in the nearby towns of Richmond, Garnett, and Greeley, all three on busy highways that sprang up over time.
The framework university closed and was eventually demolished. The parish school also closed. So did the nearby railroad, which later became a 51-mile rail trail. Several Ursuline friars and sisters/teachers left for other places. Farming stopped. The land was rented for a time, but was eventually sold. A storm destroyed the large Carmelite barn and increased the population in nearby towns.
This day
St Boniface still has around 60 active families in his parish today. Its Easter and Christmas services have standing assistance. The university building area is converted into a meditation garden with a fountain. Its limestone monastery has been converted into a modern three-unit rectory and retreat for priests and others in need of quiet healing. Is named Elijah’s Rest.
Two friars live in the rectory, where they serve the church. The historic cemetery is still in use and is located where the original log church stood. Tourists visit this church and its well-kept cemetery. Its doors are always open. For detailed information on this church, please see the brochure below.
