Local area - Sproxton Methodist Chapel (now at Baker University, Baldwin City, US)

A collection of information and newspaper cuttings relating to the relocation of the chapel and dedication service. Copies made from originals owned by Mr Tony Charles, Grantham in 2004, via Councillor John Hurst.

Clarice L. Osborne Memorial Chapel at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas was originally constructed in Sproxton, England in 1864 and was the home to the Methodist congregation of Sproxton, England for 124 years.

In 1988 when the congregation could no longer support the chapel, it was closed and stood in disuse for seven years. The chapel was discovered by Baker Professor Dean Bevan while teaching for a semester at Harlaxton College. In 1995, due to a gift from Mr Robert R Osborne in memory of his wife, Clarice, it was acquired by Baker University, dismantled and shipped to Baldwin City where it was reassembled. Lady Margaret Thatcher assisted in the dedication of the Clarice L. Osborne Chapel at Baker University on October 23, 1996, because her father Alfred had been a lay preacher who had occasionally preached in the Sproxton chapel with his daughter Margaret in attendance.

Information about the Chapel: Seats 100 Structure contains 25,000 stones and 19,000 clay roof tiles. The stones were numbered during dismantling to assist with reconstruction More than 5 tons of sawdust helped protect the contents, essentially wiping out Britain's sawdust supply 200 crates travelled more than 5,000 miles by train, boat and truck The original pews had been sold so new pews were custom made by a local Kansas company The chapel's organ, not functioning on purchase, was fully restored

Location: Box 11

• loc/6/1 Correspondence from Dr Kingsley (Principal) to Mr Tony Charles, Grantham dated 2004 returning original documents
• loc/6/2 Copies of 6 x newspaper cuttings dated 1995-6 regarding relocation of chapel and dedication service
• loc/6/3 Items relating to Dedication Service 23 Oct 1996: Convocation, menu, service, order of ceremonies
• loc/6/4 Copies of 2 photographs of the chapel at Baker University and Kirby House, Abilene

By appointment only

Mr Tony Charles, Grantham via Councillor John Hurst, 2004

Added by Linda Dawes, College Librarian, Feb 2018

With copyright holder

• http://kansastravel.org/osbornechapel.htm#map
• https://www.bakeru.edu/chapel/
• http://www.lasr.net/travel/state.php?Clarice+L.+Osborne+Memorial+Chapel&TravelTo=KS0301001&VA=Y&Attraction_ID=KS0301001a008