Kansas Church Records

Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Kansas were the Methodist-Episcopal, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Disciples of Christ. ( A brief history of the establishment of denominations is in Edward R. DeZurko, Early Kansas Churches (Manhattan, Kans.: Kansas State College, 1949; FHL book 978.1 A1 no. 35; film 0928360 item 4).

DeZurko published a religious history of Kansas:


 * DeZurko, Edward R. Early Kansas Churches. Manhattan, Kansas: Kansas State College, 1949. book 978.1 A1 no. 35; film 928360 item 4

Online Records

 * 1861-1918 - at FamilySearch — index
 * 1861-1918 - at FamilySearch — index

Missions

 * Osage Mission (Catholic) 1837
 * Shawnee Mission (Methodist)
 * Ottawa Mission
 * Sugar Creek Mission (near Osawatomie, Linn County)
 * Osage Mission
 * Potawatomie Mission
 * Kickapoo Mission

The Methodist came to the area in the 1830, the Baptist and Presbyterian in 1837.

The Family History Library has a few original church records for Kansas, such as files from the Jesuit missions and microfilm copies of records at the Presbyterian Historical Society. Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. You can write to the following addresses to learn where their records are located:

Baptist
American Baptist—Samuel Colgate Historical Society 1106 South Goodman Street Rochester, NY 14620 Phone: (716) 473-1740 Fax: (716) 473-1740

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)
Early, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church records for Kansas Wards and Branches can be found on film and are located at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. The film numbers, for each ward, can be locate through the FamilySearch Catalog. Or by refering to Jaussi, Laureen R., and Gloria D. Chaston. Register of Genealogical Society Call Numbers. 2 vols. Provo, Utah: Genealogy Tree, 1982. (FHL book 979.2258 A3j; fiche 6031507). These volumes contain the film numbers for many (but not all) membership and temple record films.

Disciples of Christ
Disciples of Christ Historical Society 1101 19th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212 Phone: (615) 327-1444 Fax: (615) 327-1445

Jesuit Mission
Jesuit Mission and College Records, 1832-1967. FHL film: 590422-590423

Methodist
Baker University Library 606 Eighth Street Baldwin City, KS 66006 Phone: (913) 594-8414 Fax: (913) 594-6721

Memorial Library Southwestern College 100 College Street Winfield, KS 67156 Phone: (316) 221-8225 Fax: (316) 221-2499

Moravian
The Moravian Archives 41 West Locust Street Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018 United States of America Phone: (610) 866-3255 Fax: (610) 866-9210

For information concerning missions to the American Indians visit Moravian Missions Among American Indians. For a map and list of missions visit Early Moravian Missions in Eastern Pennsylvania and Surrounding Areas 1740-1773.

Mission records are also available in the. The records are indexed in the Book 970.1 F642i.

Moravian, Chippewa and Munsee Mission Family records FHL film: 982250 Item 6

Protestant
First Protestant Osage Mission, 1820-1837. FHL book: 970.3 OS1g

Presbyterian
Presbyterian Historical Society United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 425 Lombard Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 Phone: (215) 627-1852 Fax: (215) 627-0509

Roman Catholic
Diocese of Dodge City P.O. Box 137 Dodge City, KS 67801 Phone: (620) 227-1500

There is an archive page but there are no records on-line.

The diocese includes the counties of: Barber, Barton, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Meade, Morton, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush, Scott, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens and Wichita

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas Chancery Office 12615 Parallel Parkway Kansas City, KS 66109 Phone: (913) 721-1570 Fax: (913) 721-1577

The Archdiocese includes the counties of: Anderson, Atchison, Brown, Coffey, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Lyon, Marshall, Miami, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Shawnee, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte

Diocese of Salina 103 North Ninth Street Salina, KS 67401-2503 Phone: (785) 827-8746

There are no records at this site.

The diocese includes the counties of: Cheyenne, Clay, Cloud, Decatur, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, Wallace and Washington

Diocese of Wichita 424 N. Broadway Wichita, KS 67202 Phone: (316) 269-3900

There are no records at this site.

The diocese includes the counties of: Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Labette, Marion, McPherson, Montgomery, Morris, neosho, Reno, Rice, Sedgwick, Sumner, Wilson and Woodson