THE HISTORY OF A BALDWIN CITY CHURCH: OSBORNE CHAPEL, BAKER UNIVERSITY

 

Student Researchers:

Jesica Turner, 2003

Tracy Dickerson, Krystal Highfill, Kim Kilmartin, DJ Watkins, 2005

 

Editor: Dr. George Wiley, Baker University

 

Photographs

 

 Introduction

Baldwin City, Kansas, is a small town with a rich history.  The town originated in Kansas Territory;William Quantrill's border war fighters once nearly attacked it; and the battle of Blackjack, a precursor to the Civil War, took place nearby.  Baker University, founded by Methodists in 1858, is part of this rich history. Baker admitted women from its first day, something that "elite" area schools did not do.  During the border wars, many area schools closed for a time, but Baker never shut its doors.  Around the time of its 135th anniversary, the University began the project of relocating small Methodist chapel from Sproxton, England, to the campus.

 

  1. What are the churches of Baldwin City?

 

  1. Has work on this church's history already been done? Is there a written history of the church? If yes to either question, find out more so you don't duplicate someone else's efforts.

 

In the spring of 2003, Baker University student Jessica Turner researched the history of Osborne Chapel. The majority of information is from interviews with the Reverend Dr. Ira DeSpain, published pamphlets, and videos that Rev. DeSpain has in his possession for tours of the chapel.

 

  1. What people in this church know about the history? Are they willing to be interviewed? Are there people who know about the history but who aren't members of the church?

 

University Minister DeSpain was ory of the church but who are not members of the church?rsity

atives from the Methodist Church of England, members of the Bomore than happy to be interviewed. As he is the Chapel minister and possesses all the artifacts and materials pertaining to the chapel, he is the main source of our information. Since the Osborne Chapel does not have a designated membership, there are no official members; this circumstance is explained later. Art Department Chair Professor Walt Bailey, who was a faculty member during the construction of the chapel, was interviewed for his perspective on a controversy related to the construction of the chapel.

 

  1. What written documents or artifacts are available to you, and how do you get access to them?

 

Written documents and artifacts are available through Rev. DeSpain. Jessica Turner’s research is included in the document you are reading.

 

  1. How Did The Church Get Started?

 

Unlike other Baldwin City churches, Osborne Chapel originated in another country. Methodists of the small village of Sproxton, England, had met in members’ houses for six generations before deciding that they needed a building devoted to worship. In 1864, Mr. John Coy along with other village members founded the chapel. The chapel first opened its doors to a congregation of six people and never saw more than forty people worship within its walls. By the late 20th century, however, the congregation was getting progressively smaller. Attendance slowly declined to the point that the last service was held in 1988 with a congregation of just three people. At that time, planning began for the church to hold its last service and close its doors.  That service took place in 1988.  One year later, Baker University’s president, Dr. Daniel Lambert, was aware that a Baker faculty member would soon be in residence at Harlaxton College, located in the same general area as Sproxton.  Dr. Lambert asked professor of English Dr. Dean Bevan to conduct a search in the area around Harlaxton for a closed chapel that might be suitable for moving to Baker’s campus.  Only ten miles away, Dr. Bevan found Sproxton Methodist Chapel and its small For Sale sign in front.

He decided that it would be the perfect chapel for Baker. Plans were then laid with the Sproxton inhabitants, shipping and construction contractors, and philanthropist Robert R. Osborne, a banker from Olathe, Kansas, to move the chapel to Baker. Osborne agreed to fund the chapel’s entire move, a cost of about $1,000,000, on the condition that the chapel be dedicated to the memory of his wife, Clarice.

On May 29, 1995, Sproxton villagers held a farewell service in the chapel to commemorate its history and to say goodbye. The chapel was then disassembled, boxed up stone by stone with each stone carefully labeled, and shipped to the United States where a finished basement, a strong foundation, and an excited campus awaited its reconstruction. On October 23, 1996, the chapel was officially finished and dedicated the Clarice L. Osborne Memorial Chapel. The University was especially honored by the presence of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the keynote speaker. Thatcher attended because her father Alfred, a grocer in Grantham, England, had been a lay preacher on the Grantham circuit who had occasionally preached in the Sproxton chapel, frequently with his daughter Margaret in attendance. Present at the convocation were 165 people, including Annie Stockwell, a Sproxton resident who had attended worship services during the chapel’s time in England; other Sproxton residents; representatives from the Methodist Church of England; members of the Board of Trustees; President and Mrs. Lambert; and faculty and students.

 

  1. Who Were The Founders?

 

As indicated, John Coy and other Sproxton Methodists were responsible for the construction of the church in its original location.

 

  1. Why Did They Decide To Start A Church?

 

As noted above, the Sproxton Methodists constructed their church building because the congregation’s growth made it impractical to continue meeting in members’ homes.

 

  1. Has The Church Existed In Other Buildings Than The Present One? What Were They?

 

Before the construction of Sproxton Methodist Chapel, Sproxton Methodists met in each others’ homes. As far as Baker University is concerned, religious life has always played a major role.  The campus congregation had never had a place dedicated solely to worship when Dr. Lambert initiated the search process.  Prior to the arrival of the chapel, students met in many places on campus, including the former Centenary Hall, McKibbin Recital Hall, the basement of Harter Union, Darby-Hope Theater in Parmenter Hall, and Baldwin City First United Methodist Church.  Also, students attend churches in Baldwin City and the surrounding region. Dr. Lambert felt that it was time for the students of the University to have a designated place where they could go to meet their spiritual needs. 

 

Additional Information About The Church’s Relocation to Baker

A key person in the church’s move was Robert R. Osborne, a philanthropist and banker from Olathe, Kansas, who agreed to fund the entire project from start to finish via a gift of $1,000,000.  At his request, the University named the chapel in honor of his wife, Clarice.

            Baker purchased the chapel from an entity of the British Methodist church called the Grantham circuit. (Grantham is a large town near Sproxton.) The dismantling of the church began almost immediately.  A final service took place on May 29, 1995, allowing the people of Sproxton to celebrate the chapel’s history and its upcoming move to a new home 5000 miles away.  At about the same time, workers were preparing a site for the building on the Baker campus.  They dug a basement to serve as space for fellowship and an office for the university minister.  The first crates holding stones from the church arrived in Baldwin City in the fall of 1995, and the trowel used to set the cornerstone of the chapel in 1864 was put into use just one more time, to set that same cornerstone again, 5000 miles from where masons first laid it. 

            Over the course of a school year and a summer, the construction continued at a rapid pace, amid some controversy over the destruction of several large trees.  Despite the protests, all involved were still happy to see the chapel being rebuilt on the Baker campus.   The students and faculty were so excited to have a place of worship to call their own, that the very first American service to be held in the chapel was in May of 1996, before the chapel was even finished.  Students met with the Rev. Dr. Ira DeSpain in the chapel during the last week of classes for the semester and held their first service in a place dedicated solely to worship, under a clear blue sky, since the chapel had no roof at the time. 

            The dedication of the chapel on Baker’s campus made the news across the country, including the CBS Evening News. Baker alumni in places as far away as Los Angeles cut out newspaper clippings about the arrival of the chapel and sent them to be part of the University Archives. In England, the BBC made a TV special about the move of the chapel, featuring interviews with a few members of the church and with Baker treasurer David Pittman.

The chapel’s stained-glass windows added by Mr. Coy in 1902 honor various members of his family include the tri-panel dedicated to his sister, Mary Foster.  In the rear of the church on the center pane of these windows, there appears a poem of unknown origin.  When the history of the chapel is considered, the poem is poignant.  It reads:

 

For thou must share if thou wouldst keep that good thing from above.

Ceasing to share we cease to have, for such is the law of love.

 

            Some parts of the chapel are new.  Before the Baker purchase, the congregation in Sproxton sold the original wooden pews to raise money to maintain the building. Baker obtained new hand-carved pews from the Garnett (Kansas) Church Furniture Company.  The design of the pews reflects the outline of the stained glass windows.  Carved on the sides of the pews is the quadrafoil shape used in numerous parts of the sanctuary.  Also new to the building are the wooden floor, interior ceiling, and light fixtures.  The pump organ in the chapel was part of the move from Sproxton but was originally built in Chicago and then shipped to England.

 

  1. How Have Major Historical Events Affected The Church?

On the day of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, many students gathered in and around the chapel, trying to come to terms with the conflicting emotions they were experiencing.  Dr. DeSpain consoled many students at that time.  Beyond “9/11,” Osborne Chapel serves as a gathering point for students when there is a crisis.

 

  1. What People Have Been Influential In The Life Of The Church Over Time? (Other Than The Founders).

Mr. Robert R. Osborne, a philanthropist and banker from Olathe, Kansas, agreed to fund the entire project.  The chapel was named in honor of his wife, Clarice L. Osborne. Additionally, people of significant influence were President Daniel Lambert; Baker treasurer David Pittman, who oversaw the dismantling and rebuilding of the church; Dr. Dean Bevan, the faculty member who discovered that the building was available for sale; and the Rev. Dr. Ira DeSpain, Baker’s university minister and the founding pastor of the church in its life at Baker. Dr. DeSpain performs the traditional duties of a minister but also serves as a friend to the students.  He holds services Thursday mornings when classes are in session, performs weddings, holds Bible studies in the chapel basement, and is a resource for students who need guidance. The chapel is for use by Christians, people of other faiths, and those exploring or questioning their faith.  The chapel is open until midnight every night, and students may use the fellowship room at any time the chapel is open.  Osborne chapel is one of the few campus buildings to remain open so late.

 

  1. What controversies has the church experienced?

 

The arrival of the Osborne Chapel in 1995 caused a debate about where the chapel should be placed on the campus. The decision to place the chapel between Mulvane Science Hall and Mabee Auditorium in an area known as the arboretum was controversial. Some people voiced concern about the loss of the trees that had to be removed for the building. When asked about the debate regarding the chapel’s location, professor of art Walt Bailey recalled, “Many people wanted to debate the issue because space is limited on campus and many people wanted to save as many trees as possible.” Indeed, Baker University’s campus includes rare trees brought here from around the world by biologists and arborists. The trees make the University more attractive.

            Although many trees were cut down, the chapel has become a Baldwin landmark, a prime attraction for visitors to the campus, and a new home for student spiritual life on the University campus. Once the construction of the Osborne Chapel was completed, university officials planted new trees across campus.

 

  1. What Gives The Church Its Particular Identity Or Flavor?

This church has no stable congregation; the list of participants changes from year to year as students enter the University and graduate.  The chapel holds its services not on Sunday or Wednesday as most churches do but on Thursday mornings. School policy requires that no classes meet during the worship hour.  Also, though most area churches have part-time pastors, Osborne Chapel is home to one of Baldwin City’s two full-time ministers.

 

  1. What is the mission / purpose of the church?

 

The Clarice L. Osborne Memorial Chapel does not have a mission statement of its own because it is part of Baker University and does not have its own governing body (see question 17). As part of Baker, it follows the university's mission statement:

By encouraging faith and values exploration and deliberately surrounding the students with meaningful opportunities for student development and engagement in learning communities outside the classroom and beyond campus borders, we encourage each student to embrace our core values of community, character, and responsible citizenship. These pursuits reflect a steadfast belief in the relevance and importance of liberal arts education and a resolute commitment to our United Methodist heritage (Baker Catalog, 7).

 

  1. How has the church ministered to the Baldwin City community?
  2. What contact or involvement has this church had with other churches in Baldwin City?
  3. Is the church connected to a judicatory body? (annual conference, archdiocese, etc.) If so, what kind of relations has the church had with its judicatory body?

 

  1. What is the church's polity (how does it govern itself, how do decisions get made)? Are decisions up to the congregation only? Are others involved?

 

The Osborne Chapel is not like other churches in that it is governed by the Baker University Board of Trustees. University minister Ira DeSpain reports to the Baker President and the Board of Trustees, who make all major decisions concerning the chapel. Rev. DeSpain is responsible for reserving the chapel for weddings, funerals, or other events. In 2004, there were twenty-eight regular services, twenty-five weddings, four baptisms, and two funerals held at Osborne Chapel. Rev. DeSpain also decides the content of the services and of his sermons. Osborne Chapel has no membership roster, no budget, and no plate offerings. It is simply there to provide students with spiritual guidance and identity.

 

  1. What was the toughest thing the church ever went through?

 

The toughest thing that the Osborne Chapel has experienced is its numerous reconstructions.  The original stone of the chapel was first chiseled in the United States, placed in wooden crates, and shipped to Sproxton, England, to be constructed in 1864 by Mr. John Coy.  By the 1980s the structure was in definite need of repair and was marked for demolition.  The final worship services in Sproxton were held on May 29, 1995.  Rev. DeSpain gave his word to the original members of the church in England that the chapel would remain a place for students in search of their spirituality, a source of strength and shelter to whoever needs it, and the site of services to the faculty and student body of Baker University.  The ongoing life of the chapel shows that Rev. DeSpain has kept his promise. Recently, the building is where students and staff gathered after the terrorist attacks of 9-11.

 

  1. What are some of the church's successes?

 

Student Researchers' Notes

Jesica Turner, Spring 2003: Osborne Chapel is a popular destination of visitors to Baldwin City.  The annual Maple Leaf Festival draws thousands of people to Baldwin City, and many make it a point to tour Baker’s campus and stop in the chapel.  People frequently photograph the building in October, when the trees in the arboretum at the center of campus display beautiful colors that complement the earth tones of the chapel’s limestone blocks.

            Many couples, especially Baker students and alumni, find Osborne Chapel to be the ideal place to start their married lives. According to the Rev. Ira DeSpain, the chapel is the host to approximately thirty weddings each year, most of which are surprisingly do not involve Baker students.  DeSpain explains that Baker as such a close-knit community that when two of its members get married, the small chapel cannot hold all the friends and family who attend.  Instead students and alumni sometimes hold their ceremonies outdoors in the picturesque English garden behind the chapel or go to the First United Methodist Church a few blocks away.

Baker was a school with no building dedicated to religious purposes for more than a century.  The arrival and reconstruction of Osborne Chapel established a focal point for the campus.  Students come to count on the chapel as a place for quiet meditation as they spend their years at Baker. 

Without Osborne Chapel, the University would not be as beautiful, nor would people have the peace that the chapel extends to those who enter its doors and garden.

 

Works Cited

 

Baker University Catalog: College of Arts and Sciences and School of Nursing. 2002-2004. <http://www.bakeru.edu/course_catalog/04-05/pdfs/cas.pdf>.

Bailey, Walt. Personal Interviews. 16 March 2005, 12 April 2005.

DeSpain, Ira. Personal Interviews. 14 Feb. 2005, 6 April 2005, 8 April 2005, 14 April 2005.