Not unlike most small rural parishes in central Kansas, the St. Boniface Parish of Tipton was born in circumstances that seem far removed from the world we know today. It is hard to realize that within the span of five or six generations so much change has taken place, for indeed a century and a quarter is not really so very long. But perhaps even more difficult to bear in mind amid our preoccupation with today and our concern for tomorrow is how deeply we’ve been shaped by the people we were yesterday and how much indeed remains the same. Both church and community today face challenge and uncertainty, but no greater than the challenge and uncertainty faced less than a decade after the end of the Civil War when upon this sea of grass a young town was trying not to be blown away, anchored by little more than faith.

The parish began as a mission from St. Joseph, Kansas, part of an extensive area under the care of two pioneer priests, Rev. Louis Marie Mollier and Rev. Perrier. The earliest parish records underscore the fact that conditions were harsh and pastoral needs basic. From 1873-1875 mass was celebrated in the home of Nick and Angela Arnoldy, Sr., a simple dugout, where on July 2, 1874 their daughter Margaret became the first child whose baptism was recorded. The site of the Arnoldy homestead was on land now belonging to the Philip Streit family, one and a half miles west of the present Tipton. Death also demanded its due, and so ground was consecrated for a cemetery plot in what is now block 55 and 56 on the city map.

Even as early as 1875 that city map was beginning to take shape. The Nick Arnoldys had moved by then to a two story building constructed of native limestone on the west side of Main Street. The family continued to provide a place for community worship even after moving to this new dwelling, as the second floor served as the parish church. Though yet barely a “parish” in a town still itself just taking shape, these settlers needed more pastoral care that could be provided from distant St. Joseph. Catholics here were now to be served as a mission community attached to the St. John’s parish in Beloit. From 1875-1879 St. John’s pastor Rev. Anton Timphaus worked to organize the embryonic congregation. Since the town at that time was called Pittsburg, the mission became known as the “Pittsburg Catholic Congregation.” Definite boundaries were established extending 6 miles north, 20 miles east, 10 miles west, and south as far as the county line. Covering some 625 square miles, these parish lines remain essentially the same today. Franz Mergen, Nicolaus Reinert and M. J. Arnoldy were chosen as the first Church Trustees as the Catholics here began to prepare for the day still some years off when they would become an independent parish.

First priority was clearly the construction of a house of worship. On March 26,1877, Block 44 in the town of Pittsburg was acquired as the site, and two days later on March 28th Nicolaus Reinert and M. J. Arnoldy were commissioned to go to Russell and make arrangements for sufficient lumber with which to construct a church. The account book shows that all but $50 of the cost was paid at that time, an interest-bearing note for the balance being carried until fall of that year. However, the building itself, measuring 20’ X 30’, was completed by midsummer. The new church was only one of many construction projects in the rapidly growing town, and by November of ’77 it was decided the cemetery should be moved beyond the city limits to land donated for that purpose by H. Konzem. The year, an addition 20’ X 30’ as well as a small 12’ S 14’ sacristy added to the southeast side more than doubled the size of the Church. The building also gained an added use, as the congregation chose Nicolaus Arnoldy, P. Jacobs, H. Konzem, Carl Braun, and Conrad Allman as the first school committee, hired Gabriel Kirsch as the first teacher, and began holding class in the church. It wasn’t until sometime after 1879, however, that the parish gained its present name and dedication to St. Boniface, patron saint of the German people. It is thought that this came about through the influence of Rev. Clemens Niemann, who took up the role of pastor in 1879 when the community, now called Tipton rather than Pittsburg, was made a mission of the Cawker City parish. He remained pastor until May of 1884. However, as a mission Tipton did not as yet have a resident priest.

The first pastor to actually reside in Tipton was Rev. Frederick Schalk who succeeded Fr. Niemann. He lived with Nicolaus Arnoldy, Jr. until donations collected for the construction of a parish house made it possible to build such a structure. It stood on the same spot as the present rectory. During Fr. Schalk’s tenure he organized a first rate church choir and oversaw yet another relocation of the cemetery, this time made necessary by flood waters which covered the burial grounds. Three acres were purchased form George W. Lowers and the cemetery was moved to its present site south of town.

Rev. Frank Schalk succeeded as pastor in 1886 and in his two years here did much to beautify the interior of the church, adding Stations of the Cross and confessionals. He also saw to the acquisition of vestments and sacred vessel to enrich liturgical observance. The Rev. Andreas Kunkler would also have a two year stay as Tipton pastor, serving from May 1888 until November 1889. It was Fr. Kunkler who started the Sodality of the Sacred Heart in the parish, January 21, 1889.

One of the most important developments in the history of the parish came about through the efforts of the resourceful Rev. Anton Abel who directed the parish from November 1889 until October of 1893. It was Fr. Abel who placed the school under the instruction of the Sisters of St. Joseph. In order that the sisters have a place to live, he gave them the rectory and moved himself into the church sacristy. His commitment to education saw him also travel during the winter months to all the public schools in the vicinity to give religious instruction of a new brick church might be begun. Certainly, Fr. Abel sought to establish permanence in the young parish, both through the religious education of its children and the more solid structures he envisioned to serve the parish needs. However, the parish he saw marching forward with progress as steady as the Corpus Christi processions he also introduced was not yet able to embrace his vision for it.

Under the next three pastors lay teachers, not teaching nuns, staffed the school. Rev. William Wenzel oversaw the return to lay faculty as Mr. Gottschalk, Margaret Mergen and P. J. Arnoldy instructed classes in the fall of 1893. The dream of a brick church was for the time being abandoned when the brick factory failed. Rev. Leonard Epp who came to the parish in January of 1896 rekindled interest in a new church building,, but when the town’s second Catholic church went up during the pastorate of Rev. Robert Loehrer (June 1898 to September 1901), it was again a frame structure rather than brick. However, measuring 188’ x 48’ by 22’, the house of God built by Ft. Loehrer’s flock was indeed a significant improvement.

In September 1901, the parish came under the leadership of another pastor of the same stamp as Fr. Abel. Rev. John W. Walleser, who was to serve St. Boniface until June of 1907, again put the school in the charge of the Sisters and, with a zeal for enlarging the scope of religious instruction to the more distant reaches the area reminiscent of Fr. Abel, built two humble structures designed to extend the church’s ministry. St. John’s Church, a quasi-mission of St. Boniface Church, was located 7 miles southwest of Tipton, and came to be known better as “Holy Corner.” Five miles east and half a mile north, Father also built what parishioners referred to as the “East School.” Improvements to the new church in Tipton were not neglected either, as money was collected for the purchase of three altars, pews, an organ, and a much needed convent to house the sisters. The parish also began a number of devotional and service organizations, including the Sodality of Mary, the St. Aloysius Sodality, the Society of St. Anne, and the St. Boniface Society.

It wasn’t until the time of Rev. Herman Regensbruger (June 1907 to December of the same year) that work on the convent was completed, and it wouldn’t be until the pastorate of Rev. Raymond Drees (December 1907 to March 1910) that the debt for its construction would be retired. However, the Sisters of St. Joseph would remain for many years this time, educating generations of Tipton Children. Their presence would become even more important as education received even greater emphasis during the 25 year first pastorate of Rev. Charles Menig.

Fr. Menig, the author of scholarly books on philosophy and logic written in Latin, could himself be as forbidding as his texts. But his old world commitment to learning and order enabled him to shape a parish in his image. The record of his yearly improvements alone reflects a church establishing a character beyond its frontier beginnings. In 1911 he repaired and redecorated the church interior and purchased a pulpit. In 1912, an addition was made to the old church now being used as a school. That year too saw the purchase of a Nativity Crib. In 1913 church bells were bought, the old rectory sold and the present rectory built. 1915 saw the addition of new Stations of the Cross and several stained glass windows. In 1916 and 1917 the St. Boniface was able to pay off the entire parish debt. The years 1919-1921 saw construction of an impressive two story red brick building to house both grade school and high school classes. This building is still in use today as Tipton High School. During the years from 1922-1924, additional land was donated by Mrs. Faass for enlargement of the parish cemetery, cement curbing was added to its north and east sides, a large Crucifixion group sculpture was installed in the center of the cemetery grounds, and iron fencing with four gates was put on its north end. In 1925 Father oversaw the construction of a stone “Grotto of Lourdes” on the church grounds.

Fr. Menig’s pastorate was interrupted for four years (1935-1939) during which Rev. Michael Dreiling was pastor. Fr. Dreiling was able to pay off $4,600 on the school debt and keep it in operation in spite of hard times caused by the Great Depression. He also instituted catechetical instruction on Saturday afternoons and for two weeks each summer.

Rev. Menig returned to Tipton in 1939 and remained until his death in 1947. During this time he began collecting money for a new church. However, his legacy was certainly more than the important building projects he began. During his time as pastor, two of Tipton’s young men were ordained to the priesthood: Rev. Francis Reidel in his first stay, and Rev. Emil Sinner in his second, both no doubt influenced by Fr. Menig.

After Fr. Menig’s sudden death, Rev. Emmett J. Coler served briefly as parish Adminstrator until Rev. Edgar D. Weigel received permanent appointment as pastor in June of 1947. Under Fr. Weigel, the school building was redecorated and the Knights of Columbus Hall was built (1949). However, early in the morning of January 18, 1952 the wood frame church was completely destroyed by fire. For the next two and a half years weekday masses were offered in the school auditorium, while Sunday masses, weddings, and funerals were held in the K. of C. Hall. It took several months of planning and volunteer labor to remove the burned structure and ask bids on a new church. In July of 1953 sealed bids were opened and work was begun on a $220,000 ediface 140’ long by 54’, widening at the rear to 80’ and topped by a 63’ bell tower. On completion the cost had been paid in full, and mass was offered for the first time in the new building November 30 of 1954 following dedication ceremonies. Over 700 attended the mss and parish dinner that followed.

Another highlight of Fr. Weigel’s tenure at St. Boniface was his own silver jubilee as a priest on April 12, 1955. A year later, on April 8, 1956, he was honored again, this time as Monsignor Weigel. He was to receive still one more important honor during his time at Tipton. On January 24, 1963 Msgr. Weigel was one of 16 priests to receive Papal honors from Pope John XXIII.

A number of improvements continued to grace the new church in the 1960’s. Bishop Frederick Freking dedicated a peel of bells in August of 1963, nineteen art glass windows were installed from 1965 to 1967, and in January 1967 refinishing of the pews, pulpit, and vestment cases were major projects.

Msgr. Francis J. Senecal replaced Msgr. Weigel as pastor in June of 1968. Among his accomplishments while here were remodeling of the rectory and the building of an addition to the convent. A new organ for the church was also purchased during his pastorate.

In June of 1970 Rev. Emmett J. Coler returned to Tipton, this time as pastor. Early in 1972 he and his parishioners learned they faced the most significant crisis in the parish since the church fire when it was learned that the Sisters of St. Joseph would no longer staff the Tipton schools. Through much hard work Fr. Coler, the School Board, and the Church Committee were able to preserve Tipton’s Catholic high school by hiring lay faculty and obtaining Rev. Donald McMarthy to serve as principal. Since then the high school has thrived, becoming a source of pride for the parish and community as THS students have won munerous honors in math, speech and drama, scholarship testing, and athletics, including state championships in girl’s track (1973) and sand green golf (1988 and 1989), and nine Fort Hays State University Math Relay crowns.

Nevertheless, the task of preserving the Catholic high school has required sacrifice by the Tipton people and wise leadership by the parish’s most recent pastors. Fr. Melvin Long helped institute a Memorial Trust Fund and a revised tuition program. Under Fr. James Hoover tuition was discontinued in an effort to attract new students while an ambitious Endowment Fund plan was begun to help meet the school’s long term financial needs. Present pastor Fr. John Wolesky continues to seek the means to preserve Catholic education here with the aid of support groups such as the Booster club and the Alumni Association, both begun during Fr. Hoover’s pastorate. If Tipton’s history of faith and perseverance are indicative of the present day character of its Catholic people, then they and the non-Catholic friends who share too in school and community have much indeed to expect in future blessings.