Woods Chapel has long been a familiar historic landmark in eastern Jackson County. Woods Chapel Road, named for this church building erected in 1875, served as the main route of travel between the villages of Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs in the early days of pioneer settlement in the area.
Construction
Historic Woods Chapel Church is made of post and beam construction set on a rubble foundation of random limestone rock. A rough plank floor was laid over tree trunk joists (many still bearing tree bark) supported by field stone piers. Large side windows admitted ample light for morning worshippers and highlighted the original bead board wainscot and vaulted ceiling.
History
In 1862, land was deeded to John S. Woods and 2 others as trustees for a Cumberland Presbyterian Church to be located equidistant between the communities of Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit. The first church building was built of oak timbers. The present building was built in 1875 to replace the original log building of the same site.
The Presbyterians met in the building until the 1930’s. The KC Presbytery sold the building for $200 to a Mr. Turner who planned to raise it. The local Ladies-Aid-Society, who had met in the building since 1910, were aghast. News spread and soon letters and donations came from Oregon, California, and many other distant places.
The Ladies purchased the building in 1945 for $450 and continued to use it until donating the building and grounds in 1982 to the Friends of Missouri Town 1855. In the interim, a furnace had been installed, a new water line run to a kitchen cabinet, and a new wood floor laid over the original plank floor.
Many of the handmade pews and pulpit are original to the building, as are the dark wood wainscot and ceiling. Originally, there was a cast iron stove in the center of the room for heat. Kerosene chandeliers hung from hooks still visible on the ceiling. The cemetery at the rear of the church is the final resting place for many of the early church members.
A small cupola is above the front entry which contains the original bell fro the old Delta School house built in 1874. The school was demolished in 1947 by the Highway Department and the bell was donated to Woods Chapel, which originally had no bell. If you pull the rope hanging through the vestibule ceiling, you will hear the gentle peel of the bell that summoned many countryside youngsters to school during the early days of Jackson County.
Availability
The Chapel serves as a meeting place and social hall for the Friends of Missouri Town 1855. General Membership and Board Meetings are held periodically, workshops conducted on pioneer skills and culture and monthly 1850’s dances are hosted by the Missouri Town Dancers and Musicians. The public is always welcome at any Friends event.
The building is also available for community and private activities. Many meetings, family reunions and weddings have been held at the Chapel. For more information on renting Woods Chapel Church for your event, Click Here.
Where is Historic Woods Chapel Church?
Conveniently located at the Wood’s Chapel Road exit from I-470/M-291 Highways in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Direct freeway access makes it convenient from anywhere in the metropolitan Kansas City area.
Assistance or information
Donations of both money and time are needed to continue the work of restoration and maintanance at Wood’s Chapel. Future plans include a new roof over the original structure, some stabilization work and repair of cemetery monuments damaged by vandals.
The Friends of Missouri Town 1855 is a registered not-for-profit organization and donations are tax deductable.
Our mailing address is...Friends of Missouri Town 1855
P.O. Box 1907
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Contact us via e-mail at president@fomt1855.org
Contact us by phone 816-373-9734
