The Linwood Boulevard Christian church, with the Atkins hall memorial building at the rear, is shown on this 1915 postcard. The building was built of Phoenix stone, an almost white material, and the roof was of red tile. Henry F, Hoit was the architect. The first services were held in the basement of the building, with Rev. T. P. Haley as pastor. Mr. Haley had preached the dedicatory services of the first Christian church erected in Kansas City, located at the corner of Twelfth and Main streets. He also was the pastor of the second church at Eleventh and Locusts streets. He retired in 1907 and was pastor emeritus of the Linwood church when Dr. Burris A. Jenkins became pastor. The church as shown was finished and dedicated two years later, December 26, 1909. The J. B. and Mary Atkins memorial was added in 1914. Dr. Jenkins was a progressive liberal. His church doors were open to all creeds and denominations, and little attention was paid to old church forms and rituals. Dances and movies were held in the church and as many as 400 young persons danced to the music of a 7-piece orchestra on a Saturday night in the church parlors in 1927. There were objections and controversy over this and eventually the dances were held at the Armory on Main street. However, Sunday night movies were continued. Liberal policies of the Linwood Community church under Dr. Jenkins resulted in the exclusion of the congregation from the co-operative circle of other Christian churches in the city. The church was destroyed by fire November 1, 1939. The Elsmore hotel next door (now Cornell hotel) was not damaged. Church rolls and financial records were saved by Miss Margaret LaMar, church secretary. Members of the congregation voted November 7 to accept the use of the nearby Temple B'nai Jehudah, free of charge, for Sunday services until a church was built. A new site at 4601 Main street, overlooking the Plaza, was chosen for rebuilding. Frank Lloyd Wright, architect, designed the building. A 50-year member of Community Christian church, Mrs. F. H. Goldsmith, 605 East Seventy-first street terrace, remembers attending services in the last two buildings, and before that Miss Burkhardt's Sunday school class for children at Eleventh and Locust. The old site on Linwood now is occupied by an A. & P. food store and parking lot. Kansas City Star, January 31, 1970.
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