The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-30

-Rl-t- ~ - Sev a new
churches were
built duri n
that per o q,
many new additions were added to
older buildings. the church and Sun
day school attendance was charac-
terized by large gains. and many som
munity projects were instituted by
the various churches
a total of almost s5Oe,Oo0 was
spent last year on new buildings and
additions OF an important character
by Topeka churches, and from indt-
cations next year viii see even a
greater building program If the cost
of minor improvements and repairing
which was done last year. was added
TO the grand total. the money spent
on Topeka's seventy-two churches
would probably approach the million
dollar mark. OF the 100000 spent
on the major building operations.
$685., 900 OF the amount was spent by
three churches The First Methodist
Episcopal church was by far the
heaviest spender, with approximately
s225. .OOO-spent on a new building not
yet completed
To Complete First NJ T. in March,
According to DR.. Edmund ]. Kulp.
the pastor. the building will not be
entirely ready for occupancy for three
months. althO much OF the building
is now in u-e. The Sunday school de-
partmental rooms were finished in Oc-
tober. The Sunday school temple with
departmental organizations is prob
ably the best equipped buudtng or its
kind in the state. 4 feature OF this
addition is q recreation floor, where
volleyban anS basketball is played.
Eight classes a week occupy this
floor. both boys and girls.
The Central Park Christian church
IS occupying a new building, built at
a cost of $4,000, which was dedi-l
Gated May IS. a according to the Rev.
=. Quincy BiggS. the new building has
resulted in a general increase in the
interest in all departments Of the
church. the Sunday school practically
doubling in attendance.
The North Topeka Baptsts are also
located n a newsbuilding built on new
ground and completely equipped-with
new furniture a modern kitchen
and twenty-five Sunday school rooms
are n feature of the new building.
Two Additions Built.
The United Presbyterian church
has added two additions to the main
building. one on the east and another
on the north. These additions were
provided for in first plans of the
building The additions will cost ap-
proXimately $4,000. and will be ready
for occupancy about the last of Feb
ruary. or the first of March.
The Euclid Avenue Methodist Epis-
copal church Is another organization
which has completed an addition to
its old building. The new addition
dedicated in October cost approx
mately S27,OOO.00. \ feature OF the
addition is a gymnasium and. school
room in which athletic exercises and.
community programs are held under
the direction of L. T. Dittemore, ath-
ieVc director The Euclid Avenue
church is one of the first OF Topeka'S
churches TO meet the present day de-
mand for recreation at the church. a
regular program is mapped out and
periods are furnished for all ages and
sexes to use the gym" On Wednes-
day a community dinner and program
ara held
From a compilation of proposed ad-
ditions. most of the churches seem to
feel the need of either halls for COM
munity work. or room for Sunday
school work now being carried out
under unfavorable conditions.
New Addit N to Kansas Ave. Nj. E
The architect is at present working
on the plans for a S25.00O addition to
the Kansas Avenue NJ +. church.
Work will probably begin in the
spring. The proposed plans are for
the erection of Sunday school annex
and a gymnasium. The building cam
paign Will probably be begun the first
Sunday in March.
The Central Congregational church
is also planning on a new addition.
An attempt will probably be made in
April to raise not less than S45.OQO
according to the Rev. John Wells RAJ
hill, the pastor.
First Presbyterian To Build.
The First Presbyterian church is
another local church which is making
plans for future building. Additional
building lots --ere purchased during
the past year, and plans for new
addition are being contemplated
A tabulation of the growth of the
Topeka churches show that the build
ings erected and proposed are really
needed in most cases, to care for in
creased attendance ore broadening
needs. An average Of the attendance
gained last year by eight of the larger
Topeka churches indicates that a gain
OF about = per cent was made dur
ing the year. This average alKho tax
en- more or less roughly shows that
the churches of the oity are really in
splendid condition and are doing a
fins work.
II is not safe to assume that the
smaller churches made like gains,
but as much OF the church member
churches the assumption should prove
correct.
Urges Community Programs
The Rev. John Wells Rahill believes
that at least part of the solution to
the tendency in some circles for
church members to drift away from
the church, lies in community pro-
grams outlined and managed by the
churches Il know that the showing
OF religious moving pictures helped
the attendance at the Central Con-
creEationaI church." said the Rev.
RahiIl. The pictures have a future. /
and the church recently contracted I
for fifty-two reels. which will be
shown, two reels at a time each sun 1
day evening until spring at least