St Rose Church
Frugality and inventiveness run
through so much early history of
small country parishes. The first church for
St. Rose, was erected in 1911 for
$8500. When the need for a new
school arose, the parish simply bought
the Methodist church and two acres
of land for $700 and had a school.
The Sisters Adorers of the Blood of
Christ needed a convent the parish
purchased a hall, did it over and
they lived there quite comfortably
from 1915 to 1918. Fate stepped in
when lightning totally destroyed
the first church. There was no
insurance but a new one was built in 1921
for a modest sum.
That year was significant for
another reason. The Sisters of the
Sorrowful Mother took charge of
the school. Increasing enrollment
caused an enlargement of the
building. Further changes waited
through the depression years.
When it became possible, improvements
were made on the parish
plant including a new school, a
major church renovation, and in
1984 a new parish hall. Much of this
work was done by parishioners over
the years, making it a most economical
operation. St. Rose has been
debt-free since 1985.
The creation of the large Cheney
Reservoir was to change the student
numbers downward. The school
was forced to close in 1966. A new
apostolate has presented itself to St.
Rose in the form of the many
campers and fishermen who frequent
the lake areas on weekends. Even a
scout troop or two have been
known to show up for Sunday
Mass.
Church history was adapted from a centennial history of the Wichita diocese
Used by permission.
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Mount Vernon is in Kingman County.
