Mt. Ayr Friends Church 150th Anniversary Celebration 'Then & Now' Sunday, May 5th

The Mt. Ayr Friends Church is one of the longest, continuously operating churches in Osborne County. They will celebrate their sesquicentennial anniversary on May 5, 2024. Everyone is invited to share in the special services at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., including lunch provided at noon.

After leaving their homes in Europe in search of religious freedom, the early Quakers arrived in Kansas by horse and wagon amid Indian tribes to find unsettled territory to stake their claims.

Undaunted by Indians, drought, locust plaques, and deadly illnesses such as diphtheria and smallpox, some early Mt. Ayr Quakers wrote that those were still the best years of their lives.

The Mt. Ayr Friends Church was founded in 1874 by the Quakers who settled in the Mt. Ayr Community. The first meetinghouse was a half-dugout and halfstone building seven miles south of Bull City, later renamed Alton in 1885. The early church services were silent, with no preachers and only people speaking if led by the Lord. There were no musical instru-ments.

In 1884, a new stone church was built where the current building stands until a tornado damaged it beyond repair in 1945. Not to be discouraged, the Pleasant Valley schoolhouse was moved onto the spot, and worship services resumed. Through the years, more building and remodeling have been done on the original building to accommodate a growing congregation. Today, the church is modern with a piano and keyboard, where praises to the Lord are sung every Sunday.

God has been faithful to the Mt. Ayr Friends Church. The church's backbone is a steadfast dedication to God's Word and a willingness to serve Him. God has given the Mt. Ayr Friends Church a heart for its neighbors and for the nations and a passion for sharing the Good News of Jesus both near and far.

The upcoming celebration will emphasize the theme of 'THEN AND NOW.' God has been present with the Mt. Ayr Friends Church in the past, and they trust in His leading as they move forward into the future on this special day. Please join them on May 5 as they celebrate this momentous milestone in the Lord's faithfulness.