Projects

The mission of the Guardians of St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery, Inc. is to conserve, protect and maintain the St. Luke’s church building and St. Luke’s Cemetery. Preserving and sharing the history and heritage of both the church and cemetery are the foundation of all projects undertaken since the final church service was held at St. Luke’s Church in December 1956.

Both the exterior and interior walls of the first two sections of the church building were built of Greenhorn limestone. This double-walled construction, common to the time and area, allows the exterior and interior walls to expand and contract somewhat independently. It also allows repair and maintenance projects to be split between the exterior and interior.

There have been drainage issues along the north wall of the church building for decades, in part due to the highway surface being elevated above that of the church. Water collected along the wall and the stone foundation deteriorated as limestone blocks and mortar dissolved. This caused the exterior wall on the north side of the original section of the church to bow outward, putting pressure on the interior stone wall.  In addition, water seeped under the foundation of the exterior wall, damaging the foundation of the interior wall and the integrity of the floor in certain areas.  

While stabilizing the church building was an immediate concern, the former Board of Trustees was committed to building the legal and financial structure necessary to carry forward the heritage of the St. Luke’s Church and St. Luke’s Cemetery. The board of directors of the new nonprofit organization – Guardians of St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery, Inc. – continues the work of previous generations as it works to secure the future while preserving and celebrating the legacy of both the church and cemetery.

Yesterday there were people who had dreams.
Today the church is alive and well.
And forever will be if we do our part.

Recent Accomplishments

The mission of the Guardians of St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery, Inc. is to conserve, protect and maintain the St. Luke’s church building and St. Luke’s Cemetery. Preserving and sharing the history and heritage of both the church and cemetery are the foundation of all projects undertaken since the final church service was held at St. Luke’s Church in December 1956.

Both the exterior and interior walls of the first two sections of the church building were built of Greenhorn limestone. This double-walled construction, common to the time and area, allows the exterior and interior walls to expand and contract somewhat independently. It also allows repair and maintenance projects to be split between the exterior and interior.

  • 2022 – The stone foundation under the north exterior wall of the original section of the church was replaced as needed.  This project included replacing the lower sections of that wall, replacing water-saturated soil and addressing drainage issues. The exterior of the church building was also tuckpointed.

  • 2022 – Guttering and downspouts were added to drain rainwater away from the church building and foundation.

  • 2022 – Guardians of St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, was recognized by the State of Kansas. All assets, historical records and artifacts were transferred to the new nonprofit.

  • 2022 – St. Luke’s Cemetery was surveyed and mapped. Through dowsing, unmarked and previously unknown gravesites were located. Copies of the new cemetery map were filed with the Jewell County Register of Deeds.

  • 2023 – A cemetery directory and map were placed to the right of the south door of the church building.

  • 2023 – The IRS awarded 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a public charity to the Guardians of St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery, Inc.

  • 2023 – An architectural engineer conducted a structural review of the St. Luke’s Church building. The review determined that the exterior “envelope” of the church building was sound. Repairs to stabilize and maintain the church building for future use were suggested.

  • 2023 – Guardians of St. Luke’s Church and Cemetery, Inc. received a grant from the Jewell County Community Foundation to establish a website.

  • 2024 – An organization fund was established with the Jewell County Community Foundation. This fund includes an endowed fund for long-term support and a non-endowed fund that allows donations to be used for current projects.

North WAll Bulge

INTERNAL WALL REPAIR

In the Works

The Board of Directors is committed to completing crucial repairs to ensure the long-term preservation of St. Luke’s Church and making the building available for church and public events. 

The first priority is stabilizing and repairing the north interior wall of the sanctuary, originally completed in 1882. This will include repairs to the limestone wall and addressing issues with the windows. Once repairs have been completed to that wall, sections of flooring along that wall will be removed and replaced as needed. After the flooring is repaired, the beadboard wainscoting panels will be replaced as needed. 

Once structural issues inside the church have been addressed, additional priorities will be established to help preserve the building for future generations and allow the building to showcase the heritage and history of the church and cemetery. 

Supporting our Mission

Preserving and sharing the history of the St. Luke’s Church and community is ongoing. We look forward to connecting with descendants of church members to expand and share historical records and information. We aim to weave the stories of St. Luke’s into the broader tapestries of Jewell and Cloud counties, strengthening understanding of the role pioneer prairie churches played in the life and community of early settlers and their descendants.

We invite you to join the mission to conserve, protect and maintain St. Luke’s Church and St. Luke’s Cemetery. 

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