Downtown Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

St. Mary's Church

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 22, 2019

1. St. Mary's Church Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1857 as St. Luke's and located at 8th and Walnut. Under the influence of The Oxford Movement patronage was transferred to Our Lady in 1879. Ground for this Gothic structure was broken in 1886 and completed two years later. The altar and reredos were erected in 1887 and dedicated to the memory of the Reverend Henry David Jardine rector from 1879 to 1886. Of white marble and richly colored, the altar decoration is known as “Endolithic Process” which is now a lost art. The Anglo-Catholic tradition continues to be maintained at St. Mary's.

Erected by Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Kansas City - Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 39° 5.894′ N, 94° 34.496′ W. Marker is in Kansas City, Missouri, in Jackson County. It is in Downtown Kansas City. It is at the intersection of East 13th Street and Holmes

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Street, on the left when traveling west on East 13th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1307 Holmes St, Kansas City MO 64106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Union Prison Collapse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Kansas City Public Library Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association (approx. 0.4 miles away); Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission (approx. half a mile away); William Rockhill Nelson (approx. half a mile away); Scarritt Arcade (approx. half a mile away); Aladdin Hotel (approx. 0.6 miles away); Kansas City Municipal Auditorium (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 30, 2024

2. St. Mary's Church Marker

Marker is underneath the tree.

of all markers in Kansas City.

Also see . . .
1. Our History. Website homepage:
St. Mary’s was founded in 1854 with the original name St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and was officially incorporated in 1857. The St. Luke’s congregation built its first official building at 8th and Walnut streets in 1867 where the Hampton Inn now stands. (St. Mary's Episcopal Church) (Submitted on July 23, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. St. Mary's Episcopal Church. The property at its current location was acquired in 1886 for $9000. The parish house and church proper were constructed between 1886 and 1888. However, the church's tower soon began to lean because it was constructed on soft strata, and neither the architect nor the contractor would accept responsibility for this flaw. Reconstruction of the tower was accomplished completely at the church’s expense, involving considerable debt. Due to Episcopal Church rules, the building therefore could not be consecrated until this debt was completely paid off; this did not occur until 1938. (John Baldwin and Steven Cody Straley, Clio: Your Guide to History, Aug. 9, 2021)

St. Mary's altar image. Click for full size.

via St. Mary's Episcopal Church (Public Domain), December 2019

3. St. Mary's altar

The altar (shown here decorated for Christmas) was designed by Karyl Coleman of Tiffany's & Co. in New York. He perfected and patented the endolithic process, a method of infusing color through the thickness of marble by applying heat. Afraid the process would ruin their business, mosaic craftsmen bought and destroyed Coleman's patents and formula, rendering it a lost art. The altar is dedicated to the memory of the Rev. Henry David Jardine, whose spirit is said to haunt the church.

(Submitted on July 23, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. St. Mary's Episcopal Church (PDF). National Register of Historic Places nomination for the church, which was listed in 1978. (Prepared by Sherry Piland and James M. Denny; via National Archives) (Submitted on July 23, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 22, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2, 3. submitted on July 23, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.