The history of Plymouth Congregational Church is the history of Lawrence.

The church and the city trace their roots back to settlers from Massachusetts and a firm belief in the abolition of slavery. Both were established in 1854, through the efforts of those who came to the Kansas Territory thanks to the New England Emigrant Aid Society. And both Plymouth and Lawrence suffered the devastating blows of Quantrill’s Raid, Aug. 21, 1863.

In October 2004, the church at 925 Vt. and the city will each celebrate its 150th anniversary with a raft of sesquicentennial events.

Plymouth is getting a jump on the activities.

This weekend, the 1,200-member church — which has been in the same location in downtown Lawrence since 1870 — is launching a yearlong celebration of the historic occasion.

From Sunday through October 2004, the congregation plans: to welcome back to the church its six living former pastors; write an updated history of Plymouth; compose and perform original music marking the anniversary; and participate in the city’s sesquicentennial parade next September. The celebration begins Sunday, when Homer “Butch” Henderson, Plymouth’s pastor from 1973 to 1986, returns to the pulpit to preach at both worship services.

Why all the fuss?

“Well, there’s an awful lot of stuff we’d like to get in. With the length of time that Plymouth has been around, it seems appropriate that we spend more than just a couple of Sundays honoring that history,” said Steve Bradt, chairman of the church’s sesquicentennial committee.

Helped shape course of city

Plymouth is tradition rich. Everywhere you look, there’s a plaque of some kind honoring a church leader, an important date or venerable building.

Plymouth was organized in October 1854, soon after Lawrence was established as a city. Plymouth is believed to be the first Congregational church in Kansas. It started out in a hay tent, moving to a stone church at Sixth and Louisiana streets in 1857.

Quantrill’s Raid killed several church members and friends, as well as destroying church records when the home of the Rev. Richard Cordley, an early Plymouth pastor, was burned.

“Part of William Quantrill’s motivation to come to Lawrence was to get the abolitionist preacher, Richard Cordley. They came and they ransacked his house, and he was taken by neighbors across the Kaw to the north side of Lawrence. He and his wife Mary escaped,” said the Rev. Peter Luckey, Plymouth’s senior pastor.

The Brick Church — Plymouth’s historic sanctuary, designed by John G. Haskell — was completed in 1870 at a cost of $43,000.

An old photograph shows the church towering over the mud lane that was Vermont Street, right across from a lone cow in a cattle pen.

Another photo, taken circa 1916, depicts what appear to be several Ford Model Ts parked outside the Parish House. Added in 1916, the building burned down in 1955.

Plymouth’s old South Church was demolished in October 1999.

Two years later, the church took occupancy of a new South Church — a two-story, 14,000-square-foot addition that includes classrooms, meeting areas, a chapel and a courtyard. The addition, and the following renovation of Plymouth’s North Church wing, cost between $3 million and $3.5 million.

If it happened in Lawrence in the 19th or 20th centuries — and now the 21st — Plymouth was there to see it. In fact, it could be said that Plymouth, and other early Lawrence churches, helped shape the future of the city.

“People aren’t aware of how important a role that churches played in getting Lawrence through those early, very turbulent times. It was a pretty stressful place to be in the 1850s and 1860s,” Bradt said.

“People needed all the support they could get, and churches were part of the inspiration to keep moving forward with the abolitionist cause.”

Founded on conviction

Longtime Plymouth members are excited about the upcoming events to celebrate the church’s major anniversary.

Barbara Murphy has belonged to Plymouth since 1949, and it’s been an important part of her life.

“I grew up in that church, my children were baptized and married there and I’ve been on many boards and committees. When I think about 150 years, I’ve been a member for more than a third of that time,” she said.

“I love the history of it, and just looking at the building itself. I can’t imagine being in a new contemporary church on Wakarusa (Drive). I hope we never leave our location. I’m sure I won’t.”

Alan Hack Sr., and his wife, Julie, have belonged to Plymouth since 1951.

“To me the idea that it’s been here for 150 years — through thick and thin — and is still a vibrant part of our community, is very special. And the fact that we’ve stayed downtown. We’re very fortunate that we’ve been able to participate,” Julie Hack said.

It’s important to Luckey to remember, as the sesquicentennial approaches, how and why Plymouth came to be founded.

“Churches are started in this country for all different kinds of reasons and in all different periods of history. What to me is unique and precious about this church is that it was birthed by men and women who had a clear vision that there is no place for slavery in God’s realm,” he said.

“And these were men and women who were willing, at great personal risk to themselves and their families, to stake their lives on that conviction.”