Fire claims Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church but not its spirit

A fire that sparked due to high winds that blew through Kiowa County Friday afternoon took a historic landmark.

It burned up a significant piece of history for the Kiowa people.

But it didn’t burn the spirit of its congregants to ash.

The Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church was razed from a blaze sparked by downed power lines, according to congregant Tracey Catterson. Due to the high winds, with gusts reported over 70 miles per hour, the fire spread rapidly from the rear of the structure and the remaining structure was engulfed and consumed in a short time.

“The church has been in existence for 131 years and it was completely destroyed in the high winds on March 14,” she said.

Established near Mountain View in 1893, the building burned was at the same site as the original 1894 Rainy Mountain Mission. The structure lost had been standing since November 1949 following a fire the previous year.

The Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church (“Rainy Mountain”) has stood as a community pillar for the Kiowa people and a notable site for surrounding tribes, families, and individuals from all directions, according to Lily Painter, a lifelong member of Rainy Mountain and descend from other lifelong members (parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc.). She was tasked with setting up a GoFundMe page to raise money to rebuild.

“I am also Kiowa from the Quoetone, Toyebo, Toppah/Yellowhair/Kauahquo, and Lonewolf families,” she said. “Among other accolades it is the site of the composition of the first Kiowa Hymn — an integral aspect of Kiowa tradition — by Chief Gotebo. Many notable Kiowa leaders were dedicated members of this congregation as well.”

The church sits a few miles from its namesake, “Rainy Mountain,” a sacred site for the Kiowas and a source of notoriety and inspiration for many who love the Kiowa people, Painter said. It is a place rich in tradition, memory, language, and teachings.

The fire also caused damage to Gotebo Hall, the dining hall, built next to the church. There was considerable window and roof damage from the wind and water pressure from fire hoses battling the fire.

The congregation came together, however, to get Gotebo Hall together and patched up enough for a Sunday church service and meal following. Power has been cut to the building this week to allow for repairs but it is anticipated to be open for services this coming Sunday. 

On the Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church Facebook page, it offered a statement to a moment of connection with generations past and the church’s history.

“We were reminded by one of our congregation members who referenced the past fires in our church and dining hall history who acknowledged our brave and humble ancestors … ‘now we know how they felt.’ They prevailed because of God’s mercy and their unshakable faith &and strength, and marched onward as Kiowa Christian soldiers, even conducting worship service immediately after the fire, just as we did, and so we will prevail also.”

The GoFundMe page begun by Painter has a goal to raise $28,000 earmarked to go towards rebuilding the church, including but not limited to: landscaping, clean up, wiring, plumbing, construction, AC/heat, pews, books, hymnals, etc., she said. By 1 p.m. Tuesday, $9,165 had been raised.

In addition to the Go Fund Me link, you can mail in monetary help for the church:

Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church

P.O. Box 117

Mountain View, OK

73062

Phone: 405-933-6708.