The Right Rev. Dean Wolfe 

The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas was formed in the 1850s.  Today it is some 12,000 members strong, worshiping in 50 congregations.  The Diocese of Kansas comprises the eastern half of Kansas to include the cities of Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, the University of Kansas, Manhattan, Kansas State University, the metropolitan Kansas City area and many smaller communities.

Epiphany Episcopal Church is a member of the Southeast Convocation in the Diocese of Kansas.  We are the only active church in Chautauqua County.  St. Matthews Mission in Cedar Vale has been yoked to Epiphany for over 50 year.  The priest has always lived in Sedan and ministered to the people in Cedar Vale on a regular basis.  Although the current Episcopal population of St. Matthews has diminished over the years as the communicants have gotten older it is still an historical Episcopal presence in Chautauqua Count and the communicants would like to continue having the Eucharist twice a month on a schedule that is suitable to the priest. 

Epiphany is comprised of approximately 60 communicants with an average Sunday attendance of 32.  We have a Tuesday morning prayer service, Thursday bible study, monthly St. Agnes Guild meetings, and a thriving Altar Guild.  We sponsor a Naomi luncheon open to the community on a monthly basis, and encourage all members to participate as lectors and choir members.

The work of the Episcopal Church in Chautauqua County began after the Civil War as settlers moved west.  Henry W. and Amanda Ann Loomis and their family moved to Chautauqua County in 1870 and took a claim among the Osage Indians on the Caney River at the western end of the county.  The following spring, Amanda organized a Sunday School guided by the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer in a vacant house near present day Cedar Vale.

Following the building of the railroads in 1885, priests from neighboring counties held services in Cedar Vale, but without the guidance of a local priest, services were abandoned for several years.

The Loomis family moved to Sedan in 1890 where Henry (a cabinetmaker) established a furniture business.  Due to the Loomis’ interest in the church, the Bishop (The Right Rev. Elisha Smith Thomas) was soon invited to come to Sedan to direct the organization of a Mission.  The first service was held November 7, 1893 in Crouse Hall, the upper floor of a business on Main Street.  Bishop Thomas baptized 10 children and confirmed 2 adults at this service.  The next morning Bishop Thomas celebrated Holy Eucharist for the group and baptized 3 adults.

The first Mission in Chautauqua County was formally organized in Sedan by Bishop Thomas on December 20, 1894.  The Mission, which was named “Church of the Epiphany”, held services in the Odd Fellows Hall and later in the Baptist Church.

In 1899, the Canon R.C. Talbot, Jr. was the Resident Vicar of Grace Church in Winfield and Priest-in-Charge of the Missions in Chautauqua County; Church of the Epiphany in Sedan and the newly begun St. Matthew’s Mission in Cedar Vale.

The Epiphany congregation was anxious to acquire their own building.  In 1898, while Canon Talbot was Priest-in-Charge, they purchased Lots 1 and 3 in Block 16 on the corner of Chautauqua and Cherokee Streets in Sedan.  The frame building on the lots was used as a chapel.  This chapel may be called the first Church of the Epiphany.

Henry Loomis constructed an Altar carved with the words “Holy, Holy, Holy”, which is placed above the Altar in the present church.

In 1906, The Rev. Dr. Frank Campion Armstrong, an Englishman, became the Vicar of Epiphany Mission in Sedan.

Shortly thereafter, Amanda Ann Loomis gave to Epiphany a quarter of a block on the corner of Elm and Spruce Streets.  This included a frame house which was moved from the corner to the south side of the site.  This house was the Rectory until June 1957 when it was sold to make way for the present house.  The church property on Chautauqua Street was sold in 1906 for $1,750.00.

Plans were obtained from Howe and Hoyt, a Kansas City architectural firm, for a new stone church to be constructed similar to the country churches of England.  The church was completed within a year at the cost of $5,200. 00, excluding the site, windows or furniture.

On February 16, 1909, Epiphany was consecrated.  The finished church is commonly considered one of the most attractive small churches in Kansas and has 3 stained glass windows, one of which is a Tiffany.

The Rev. Dr. Armstrong left after the church was consecrated.  During the next two decades there were a number of Vicars who served for short periods.  As a result, the church went steadily downhill.   By October 1, 1928 when The Rev. Clarence B. Cromwell became the Vicar, there were few communicants.  Father Cromwell served for 5 years, the longest tenure in the history of the Mission.  He presented 44 persons for confirmation and baptized 32.

In 1947 the Mission was incorporated as a Parish but was not independent as funds from the Diocese were still needed to meet the budget and support a clergyman.

The Parish Hall was built and made possible through a generous gift from The Rev. Dr. Armstrong in memory of his late wife, Katherine Marie Armstrong.  It was dedicated on September 29, 1948 and Dr. Armstrong was present.  Dr. Armstrong died in February 1964.

In June 1955, The Rev. Max T. Tracy became Deacon-in-Charge.  At that time the parish assumed the full burden of its own budget and for the first time in history, the Vestry was entitled to select a Priest as Rector.  Fr. Tracy was selected on October 3 and installed on October 18, 1955. 

After 1955, the parish showed such excellent financial strength that remodeling of the Rectory was considered – the same house which Amanda Loomis had given to the church in 1906.  At this time, Mrs. Arthur G. Denman offered to build a new house.  The lovely modern home was completed and occupied by Fr. Tracy and his family in 1958.