Dodge City in Ford County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church History
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022
1. St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church History Marker
St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church is situated at 1st and Spruce, which 100 years ago was known as “Holy Hill”. The Norman style building with its brown stone walls, stained glass windows and square bell tower, is suggestive of the churches of rural England. Several of the people who were instrumental in starting an Episcopal church in Dodge City, were families from England, and they wanted a bit of their heritage to be visible here. Most notable was John J. Summersby, who had attended St. Paul's Cathedral in London and sang in the boys' choir.
In the spring of 1888 a group of citizens who were interested in founding an Episcopal church in Dodge City met in Mr. Summersby's home. The Reverend H. C. Dyer, Garden City, held a Lenten service and plans were laid immediately for the organization of a mission. As time went on, a vestry was elected, a women's guild founded, and the mission was named St. Cornelius. The name seems to be associated with Ft. Dodge, KS. St. Cornelius of Biblical times, was a Roman centurion and was one of the first gentile converts to Christianity. The Episcopal church in Dodge City is the only one so
this page online
The mission continued to grow. Over the next 8 years, Mr. Summersby, who was appointed Lay Reader by Bishop Vail, the Episcopal Bishop of Kansas, conducted most of the services. The land the church is built on was purchased for $50. The stone for the church was donated and came from an ice house in Dodge City. The ground breaking was Monday, February 7th, 1898. The entire cost was $1,200. The first service in the church was held July 17th, 1898 and the building was consecrated September 11th, 1898.
A 20’ x 40' wing was added to the building in 1915, to be used as a parish house. This provided a meeting room, space for Sunday school and a tiny kitchen. A much needed parish house was completed in 1962 and the old parish house became the north transept of the church.
St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church was a mission until December 3rd, 1946 when it gained Parish status. The mission priest at the time, the Reverend Rudolph W. Treder, became the first Rector of St. Cornelius, serving from 1938 to 1977. It is the oldest church building in continuous use in Dodge City.
Topics and series. This historical marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022
2. St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church History Marker
The marker is beside the sidewalk on the south side of the church.
Location. 37° 45.269′ N, 100° 1.092′ W. Marker is in Dodge City, Kansas, in Ford County. It is at the intersection of West Spruce Street and 1st Avenue, on the left when traveling east on West Spruce Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 West Spruce Street, Dodge City KS 67801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, on the Great Plains, on the Southern Plains, on the High Plains, 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 Comanchería, the Dust Bowl, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gospel Hill (within
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022
3. St. Cornelius Episcopal Church Entrance
Regarding St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church History. St. Cornelius Episcopal Church is a contributing property in Dodge City Downtown Historic District, National Register of Historic Places № 09000875.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Christy Davis, 5/19/2009:
The St. Cornelius Episcopal Church was constructed in 1898 by Dodge City builder A. B. Metcalfe from plans by Milwaukee architect William B. Kimball. Given the date of its construction, the building's plan was likely chosen from one of the many architectural pattern books available at the time. In 1892, this site was vacant, with dwellings to the west. The 1898 building was rectangular in massing, stretching east towest across Lots 9 and 10. The stone used in the church's original construction was salvaged from Strum's Ice House. Between 1899 and 1905, a 2-story home, likely a parsonage, was constructed north of the church and facing First Avenue. Between 1918 and 1926, the congregation constructed a concrete-block addition to the original building, creating an L-shape structure. The blond brick addition, which created the current U-shaped configuration, was constructed in 1962. The addition falls on the property formerly occupied by the parsonage.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 20224. St. Cornelius Episcopal Church Marker(on left side of entrance)
Dodge City, Kansas Historical Landmark
St. Cornelius Church
1898
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church
Also see . . . Saint Cornelius' Episcopal Church History (Church website).
Excerpt: Formed in 1888, Saint Cornelius' Episcopal Church is the oldest church building in continuous use in Dodge City.(Submitted on August 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022
5. St. Cornelius Episcopal Church Marker
St. Cornelius’ Episcopal Church
Consecrated September 11, 1898
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2022
6. St. Cornelius' Episcopal Church (southeast elevation)
The marker is beside the sidewalk near the left edge of this photo.
From the National Register Nomination: The small one-story stone church is Gothic Revival in style with a front facing gable and squat tower on the south. The square tower serves as the entrance to the church on the east end of the south facade. The entry and prominent stained-glass window on the east facade have pointed-arch surrounds typical of the Gothic style. Other windows have a simple flat stone lintel.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 9, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 11, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
