THE HISTORY OF IBCC
The Independence Boulevard Christian Church congregation has worshiped at this location for over 118 years. It has been the center of great revivals and some of the renowned leaders of the Disciples of Christ denomination have served as its pastors and preached mightily from its pulpit. In many ways over the years, IBCC has helped to plant other KC Disciple congregations and to nurture the Regional Church and General Church.
OUR STAINED GLASS WINDOWS
Through the generosity of Mr. R. A. Long, two of our stained glass windows were commissioned from the Tiffany Studios in New York City. The Long Memorial window was dedicated to Mr. Long’s parents and illustrates Jesus’ appearance to Mary in the garden on Resurrection morning. The church and the Robert A. Long Foundation funded restoration of both windows by Midwestern Stained Glass Windows.
The “Rumble Memorial Window” was dedicated to our first missionaries, and depicts Jesus holding a coin representing “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”. The signed Tiffany windows are original to the building and are dated 1905. These windows remain highly valued aesthetic enrichments to the church to this day.
In August of 2004, two of our Stained Glass Windows featured on this site were thoroughly cleaned and renovated by Midwestern Stained Glass Studios. This work was done by master glass artisan, Doug Gammon, and his crew. For the first time in 35 years, these two windows, donated in 1905 by lumber baron R. A. Long, could be viewed from outside the sanctuary, on the street, in radiant color, owing to Gammon’s work and clear glass protective coverings.
OUR ORGAN
& HAND-RUNG
CARILLION BELLS
In 1905 when the building was completed, it contained a much smaller organ.
In 1910 the front of the Sanctuary was remolded to accommodate the installation of an Austin Pipe Organ with 53 ranks (groups of pipes) comprising 4,500 pipes. Said to be the largest organ west of the Mississippi River, it provided the church with beautiful music and many organ concerts in its span of more than 50 years.
To continue the tradition of great music in this church, the Casavant Pipe Organ was installed in 1968 to replace the Austin Organ. It has 61 ranks, or 3,366 pipes. There is also an Echo Organ at the back of the balcony which is played from the main console by itself or with the main organ. It took three years to build this Casavant Organ in Canada. It was brought here by truck and reassembled in sections. All of the pipes across the front of the sanctuary are working pipes.