Why does this Kansas City church look like historic Corinthian Hall?

The large domed church at the corner of Independence Avenue and Gladstone Boulevard would not have been possible without R.A. Long’s help.

The lumber baron who lived in the equally majestic Corinthian Hall a few blocks to the west, paid more than half the construction costs for the Independence Boulevard Christian Church.

And the Beaux-Arts styled structure, completed in 1905, bears more than a passing resemblance to Long’s own mansion. In fact, the church’s design was the work of the same architect, Henry Hoyt.

Its Doric columns, mahogany pews and stained-glass windows by Tiffany were considerably more ornate than those found in most churches at the time. The elegant circular stage was often graced by prominent speakers and evangelists, likely drawn by the presence of one of America’s wealthiest families.

In 1917, Long’s daughter Loula married Robert Combs, the son of the church’s second pastor, George Combs. The young couple then moved into the elaborate residence and equestrian complex known as Longview Mansion in Lee’s Summit.

By the 1920s, the IBCC congregation had grown from 800 to 3,000 members. But over the years that number fell steadily.

Today, Sunday services are still held at the Independence Boulevard Christian Church (complete with a large Casavant organ), but other programs provided there often take the spotlight—like its Micah Ministry and the Ryogoku Soccer Academy, a school designed to help young men in the Historic Northeast merge sports and education.

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This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.