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- Buffalo Community Church
The church opened in 1988 with Rev. Elmer E. Hemphill, Sr. as pastor. This church is located on Water Street between Buffalo and Depot. The church began in what was originally a garage.
By 1992, the pastor was envisioning a larger building. A span of 30 feet by 75 feet was stepped off, connecting with the original building. As the money became available, the building took shape, mostly with volunteer labor.
Carpeting was laid in the new sanctuary the last week of May, 1994. Many things were as yet incomplete. Little did we know that on June 6, 1994, we would have an overflowing crowd for the funeral of our beloved Wendy Ann Robinson. She and her friend Denice Bertie were both killed in a car wreck near Buffalo.
In 1994, the bell tower was dedicated to the memory of Doris Cowan.
The church had its grand opening in April, 1995, at which time the mural behind the baptistry was dedicated in memory of Wendy. The mural was painted by Kit Kepley of Alma, Arkansas. In May 1995, the pastor was very busy, as he baptized twelve persons.
Rev. Hemphill and his wife, Anita, moved into the parsonage in August, 1996.
This was all completed free of debt.
- Methodist Church
In April 1886, Rev. A. A. Horner, came from Chanute and formed the present church.
Prior to their building their church, they held their meetings, as did other denominations, in the public school.
In 1888-89 the church was built, with M. D. Stout as pastor. It was dedicated by Bernard Kelly, Presiding Elder, that same year. The cost was $800. This building later became the east side of the present church.
In 1897, the present parsonage was built by C. H. Gramley, pastor, doing much of the work himself.
A charter was signed and motorized by E. A. Runyan, May 7, 1889, but for some reason was not filed with the state. June 13, 1893 the current charter was filed.
Rev. G. B. Bell was appointed to Buffalo in May, 1914. Under his leadership the new brick building was erected. Ground was broken on October 18, 1915 and was dedicated on March 12, 1916, at a cost of $8,000. The cornerstone was laid October 15, 1915.
The present pastor is Sara Dillinger.
- Nazarene Church
The Church of the Nazarene was organized in Buffalo, July 9, 1915. It first met at what is now 310 W. Depot. Rev. James Wilson was the first minister. The following month the members met in the Woodsman Hall, located on Main Street, with A. R. Bean as minister.
The present church was built in 1922 with Rev. Ben Lohman as minister. Rev. Melvin Duncan was minister in 1963 when an addition was completed. The land for the parking lot was acquired in 1992 and at that time, the addition of a fellowship hall and three classrooms were added. Rev. Steven King was minister at that time.
The parsonage was closed in 1997 due to the need of major repairs. Jerry Poe is the minister at the present time.
Churches of the Past
- Christian Church
- In 1872, the Christian Church was organized as the Elder Branch School. Brother Simpson Ely was the first minister. In 1881, the congregation moved to Stone School, east of Buffalo. Rev. Brown was minister. People walked as far as five miles and as many as seventeen came in a wagon, some on horseback. Some Sunday services were held in a brush arbor as the building would not hold them.
In 1886, they moved to the new school house in Buffalo. Various denominations took turns holding services there.
The present building grew from an extra ten dollars that the Ladies Aid had saved. The church was dedicated November of 1901. It was 48 by 59 feet and built mostly by Gilbert Park, elder of the church. At a later date, it was decided that the church needed a basement. Miniature bricks were sold to help raise money for this project.
The last minister at the church was Douglas Dorris. The last service held in the church was the funeral of Allan Stevens in 1986.
The parsonage was torn down in 1997.
- Friends Church
- In 1884, W. A. Whitaker and wife, Irma, sold a tract of land to the "Society of Friends" Church, (later called Quakers), for the construction of the first church in Buffalo. It opened in the winter of 1883-84, with C. C. Wilmore delivering the first sermon. Previous to that, services were held in the old school house.
W. B. Whitaker became minister in 1886. The night of March 19, 1887, the church was dynamited, (by the VanMeter brothers?), because the church members were opposed to gambling and drinking.
After the dynamiting, a new church was erected. The size was 30 by 50 feet. On January 15, 1888, the church was dedicated free of debt. C. C. Wilmore was again pastor.
F. G. Bursch purchased the church building in 1946 and held services for several years. It was a practice for the children to recite a Bible verse and as they left they received a small bag of candy.
Later Mr. Bursch signed the church over to the Weslyan Church in Chanute. The original land where the church stood was donated to the City of Buffalo (free) on the agreement that it be used as a City Park. This is the little park on Elm and Church.
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