Beginnings:

The southwest portion of Butler County was opened for settlement with the signing of the Osage Indian treaty in 1870. Within two years, Quakers from North Carolina had settled along the Eight Mile Creek in Richland and Pleasant Townships. Friends families from Indiana moved to Rose Hill a few years later. Meetings for worship were held in the homes of these early settlers, however, few houses could accommodate the meetings and there was no meetinghouse or school at that time.

Organization:

In 1877 Rose Hill Preparative Meeting was set up by Springfield (Hesper) Monthly Meeting. On October 26, 1878, Cottonwood Quarterly Meeting established Rose Hill as a monthly meeting. By 1878, a schoolhouse had been built one mile west of the present church location and was used by Friends as a place for worship. Sunday School was organized in 1880.

Building:

The Friends were the first religious denomination to erect a meetinghouse for worship in the Rose Hill community. A building committee was appointed on July 26, 1879 to obtain land and build a meetinghouse. In the summer of 1881, meetings for worship were held in the structure although it was not completely finished. The cemetery grounds, one half-mile east of the church, were purchased in 1882.

Additional land for a parsonage and new church was deeded to the monthly meeting in 1905. The first parsonage was built in that same year. The original meetinghouse was replaced with the present sanctuary in 1912. This building was enlarged in 1917 with the addition of two rooms onto the east of the sanctuary.

An addition with classrooms and a kitchen was dedicated on May 22, 1955. A restroom was installed in 1963 and air conditioning in 1966. A garage at the original parsonage was built in 1958. A new parsonage was constructed in 1969 and a double garage was added to the parsonage in 1990.

In 1982, another addition that included the finished basement, classrooms, church office, nursery, restrooms, and library was dedicated. In 2003, the youth minister's office was redesigned and became the church office and a new office was created for the youth minister. Other improvements to the church and parking lot were: The sanctuary remodeled in 1993, the church sided in 1995 and the parking lot graveled in 1996.

In September 2003, an Exploratory Committee was formed to research present ministries and facility needs, then bring recommendations to the congregation for consideration. In 2004, an architect was hired to draw plans for future expansion.

Pastoral and Other Related Ministries:

Jonathan Ballard, a minister from Indiana, came to Rose Hill on October 24, 1876. He was the first of several resident ministers to live in the community. The pastoral system was adopted in 1902 when the meeting called Hannah Hubbard to serve as pastor. Rose Hill has recorded sixteen persons as ministers. Several other members and former members have become pastors or have served in other Christian ministries.

Church Extension and Missions:

Members and resident ministers maintained an active outreach ministry of visitation and preaching in nearby schoolhouses and communities. Preparatory meetings that were mothered by Rose Hill were: Milam, Greencastle, Slate Creek, Cambridge, Zion School, Rose School, Rose Hill School and Star School. Monthly meetings established under the care of Rose Hill were: Argonia in 1882, Haviland in 1885, Wichita in 1887, Beulah Chapel in 1883, Perry (OK) in 1897, Timber Creek in 1944, and Derby in 1960.

A Missionary Committee was appointed on October 26, 1878. Its concerns were the outreach ministries described above and missions overseas. Friends established work in Alaska in 1898 and in Burundi, Africa in 1933. Members and former members of Rose Hill have served in Alaska, China, Cuba, Central America, Burundi, New Guinea and the Philippines.

Ministry:

Vacation Bible School has been a regular summer activity, also youth camps at Camp Quaker Haven. A children's church was started in 1990. Now, Children's Moments and Children's Church are regular Sunday morning ministries. Today, there is a full range of weekly activities that includes Bible Quiz, Discovery, PAC Club, Junior High and High School groups. There is a vibrant and active youth ministry directed by the youth pastor. Youth and adults have participated in mission trips to Mexico regularly.