The church closed again in 1936 due to out-migration during the Great Depression. It had been named Union Church, but locals called the Ladbury, for the man who donated the land. The locals used it for annual Memorial Day picnics, but that ended in the 1990s. The foundation developed problems, the roof started to leak, the building was neglected, and wildlife moved in.

In 2000, a group of concerned citizens approached Preservation North Dakota (or PND), the organization that saved the Old Stone Church in Buffalo. PND is a non-profit working primarily on a project called Prairie Churches of North Dakota, a national pilot program. The project is the first of its kind to deal with preserving rural religious structures and was officially designated as one of the White House Millennium Council’s “Saving America’s Treasures” projects.

With PND’s help, the Ladbury group laid out plans to save and restore their building. The first step was taken in the dead of winter, when volunteers climbed onto the roof to cover holes with sheets of tin. The altar area furniture was taken to a local museum for safekeeping, and a volunteer architect began plans for dealing with structural issues. Interested families donated more than $3,000, and PND awarded the group a $7,500 grant.

The following spring, 2001, the east wall of the basement caved in, so stabilizing the foundation became priority number one. During that same time period, the National Trust for Historic Places put ND prairie churches on its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

In 2002, an increasing number of volunteers donated more than 3,000 hours to scrape, paint, clean, make repairs, re-tin the steeple, renovate the interior, and shingle the roof. Local businesses and contractors donated materials, and a number of highly appreciated women kept the volunteers well fed. The group developed a plan to make “natural scaffolding” from bales stacked against the exterior walls, but, instead, a group of nearby farmers brought in their tractors, and people shingled the roof from the comfort of tractor loading buckets(??). Electric generators powered many of the tools, and drinking water was brought in from outside.

By late August, the Ladbury Church was restored enough to be used by a couple who flew in from Hawaii to get married – they were looking for an “exotic” experience on the prairie! The Church received nationwide coverage when House Beautiful magazine published an article called Answered Prayers two months later. The project was also featured in a History Channel documentary on the Nation’s endangered architectural jewels, and the Prairie Churches of North Dakota project made the cover of the New York Times and the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

On this date in 2002, Preservation North Dakota awarded the Ladbury group the state’s first “Preservation Excellence Award,” which was accepted by Keith and Lois Muncy and George Amann. The “Volunteer of the Year” award went to Becky Heise, who championed the project.

Ladbury Church Timeline

1899-1900 First church building in Kensal, ND is built.  It is lit with carbide lighting.

1912 Electricity comes to Kensal, ND and three lights are installed in the church.

1926 Church is sold, and moved 25 miles to its current rural location.  Church re-named Union Congregational Church - most area settlers were English.  Electric light bulbs are cut from their wires, and the wires are used to hang Kerosene lanterns. (Electricity did not reach rural ND until the 1950s)

1936 Church is closed due to out migration and the hard times brought on by the depression.

"Ladbury" Church, as it came to be known, was used for an annual Memorial Day picnic by area pioneers and residents for many years.  In the early 1990s, problems began to appear with the foundation and water in the basement, and the gatherings were discontinued.

1998 Church was surveyed by volunteers for the Picture North Dakota Churches project, and was determined to be in considerable disrepair and endangered.

August 2000 - Preservation North Dakota was approached by members of the Sunnyside Cemetery Association and the local historical society requesting advice and technical assistance with the "Ladbury" church located near Sibley, ND.

Fall 2000 - Organizational meeting is held, and the participants agree to work towards a solution.

Winter 2000 - Volunteers cover holes in the roof with sheets of tin as an emergency measure to keep water out of the building.  Altar area furniture is placed with local museum for safe keeping.  A plan for dealing with the structural issues that had weakened the foundation, is developed by a volunteer architect.  A fundraising letter is sent out to families that might be interested; raising approximately $3,000.00.

Spring 2001 - East wall of the foundation collapses, and plan to stabilize the foundation is initiated.

Fall 2001 - Basement foundation is stabilized just in time for winter.

Winter 2001 - Restoration plans, estimates, and information gathered.  Grant written to fund project.

Spring 2002 - Work begins on the restoration.  June, July and August, are intensive work months.

August 23, 2002 - Ladbury Church is used for a prairie wedding service (the couple was from Hawaii).  The first service since a funeral was held in the 1960s.  A community celebration program with a potluck, music and presentation, was held; with over 100 in attendance on September 20, 2002.

November 15, 2002 - Local volunteers have been nominated to receive the "Preservation Excellence Award," which recognizes demonstrated excellence in the preservation of an historically significant  resource.  Recipients have contributed in a tangible and exemplary manner to furthering preservation in ND, and serve as a model of excellence for others in ND to emulate.