Christian & Family Values Restored

Historic church architecture and steeples that dominate the landscape in Old Town Independence are tremendous and represent the foundation of our community. Many of the earliest settlers came here not for fortune and fame but to make sure the new territory was founded on Christian values. This great Christian heritage is something we should all be proud of and it should be celebrated more often here in Independence. The visible evidence of this important heritage is in our historic church architecture and sanctuaries. These structures were built not just to provide shelter for gatherings but to give glory to God through its architecture, scale, and symbolism. Materials chosen such as brick and stone were intended to endure through the centuries. Community hearts and souls went into the construction of these sacred places that witnessed baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals for generations of community people, thus, making these places important not only for church history but for the multitudes of family histories. Two historic churches are contributing components of the Harry Truman National Historic Landmark District which give them even more value to the community and to the nation. One of those, the First Presbyterian Church, is where young Harry Truman and Bess Wallace attended Sunday School. The other, First Baptist Church, represents the most prominent historic church within the view shed of the Truman Home National Historic Site. Many other historic church structures are also important to the community and help communicate the complete story of our town. This architecture is “real” and represents classic and original styles as opposed to much of today’s architecture which focuses on simulated veneers and plagiarized facades. But more importantly, it represents our collective histories; the histories of our families, our neighborhood, our town, our nation, and our covenant with God. When these pieces of our history disappear, the value of our historic community is diminished and our spiritual heritage is sacrificed. And, since historic preservation is an educational tool, a dimension is lost for spreading the Christian message to future generations. Yes, we have a lot to learn from the strong Christian and family values of our forefathers, for Christ’s sake.