St. Aloysius Church Historic Site

 947 West 47 Highway
Girard, Kansas 66743
(620) 724-6281

Free

St. Aloysius Church Historic Site Map

St. Aloysius Church Historic Site - Greenbush, Kansas
St. Aloysius Church Historic Site
St. Aloysius Church Historic Site - Greenbush, Kansas

The St. Aloysius Church Historic Site in the unincorporated community of Greenbush, Kansas has a church and a church ruins sitting almost side by side. The 1887 St. Aloysius Church was replaced by a larger building in 1907, but the newer building was struck by lightning and destroyed in 1982 and the congregation returned to the older building. The registered Kansas state historic site is very picturesque.

A grotto has been added since the first time we visited St. Aloysius CHurch Historic Site. The grotto was dedicated on September 21, 2014.

St. Aloysius Church Grotto- Greenbush, Kansas
St. Aloysius Church Grotto with Nativity in 2018

St. Aloysius Church ruins
St. Aloysius Church Historic Site in 2011 - before the addition of the grotto

Text of historic marker:

THE LEGEND OF GREENBUSH
According to legend, in 1869, Father Phillip Colleton, was caught at this site by a furious hail and thunder-
storm. The frightened priest took refuge under his
saddle and vowed that if his life was spared, he would build a church on this spot. The fervent promise resulted in the establishment of St. Aloysius, Greenbush. The
first Catholic Church erected in Crawford County was
a wooden frame structure completed in 1871. Located on the Historic "Mission Road". The church was destroyed by a storm in 1877. Parishioners quarried limestone from Hickory Creek and completed the second church in 1881. The first resident pastor, Father F. M. Verdan, arrived in 1882 and served the church for fifty years. A larger church was needed and completed in 1907. The 1881 church was converted into a community building. The third church stood for 75 years as a landmark before it was struck by lightning and burned in 1982. The ruins remain. The 1881 church was renovated into a place of worship. Thus the second church became the fourth church on March 9, 1986 and served the people until it closed in 1993. Father Colleton's promise will continue.
Registered state historic site - February 26, 1994.
Erected by the St. Aloysius Historical Society and Kansas Department of Transportation 

St. Aloysius Church - Greenbush, Kansas
St. Aloysius Church - Greenbush (Girard)


 


 

St. Aloysius Church bell
One of three bells recovered from the bell tower after the 1982 fire

St. Aloysius Church Historic Site marker
Kansas Department of Transportation Historic Marker

St. Aloysius Church Historic Site Map - Greenbush, Kansas
St. Aloysius Church Historic Site Map

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