First United Presbyterian Church (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan)

Last updated
First United Presbyterian Church
First United Presbyterian Church Sault Ste Marie 1983.jpg
First United Presbyterian Church, 1983
USA Michigan location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location309 Lyon St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Coordinates 46°29′41″N84°20′47″W / 46.49472°N 84.34639°W / 46.49472; -84.34639 Coordinates: 46°29′41″N84°20′47″W / 46.49472°N 84.34639°W / 46.49472; -84.34639
Built1903
ArchitectEdward Demar
Architectural style Romanesque Revival
Demolished2000
NRHP reference No. 84000538 [1]
Added to NRHPDecember 27, 1984

First United Presbyterian Church is a historic church at 309 Lyon Street in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Contents

The original church building was constructed in 1902 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. [2] That building was destroyed by fire in 2000 and rebuilt 2002. As of 2012, the congregation is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Early history

2003 church, built after 1903 church was destroyed by fire FirstPresbyterianUnited-SaultSteMarieMI.jpg
2003 church, built after 1903 church was destroyed by fire

The first Presbyterian presence in Sault Ste. Marie came in 1823, when divinity student Robert McMurtrie Laird was assigned to minister to the troops stationed at Fort Brady. [3] Laird, however, was unhappy with the area and ill-suited for his responsibilities, and left in early 1824. [3] A second try came in 1831, when Reverend Jeremiah Porter arrived in the area, [3] also ministering to the troops stationed at Fort Brady. [2] The First Presbyterian Church of Sault Ste. Marie was founded the following year, [2] when a small church was constructed by Mrs. John Johnson. However, in 1833, Porter left, along with a contingent of troops, [3] to move to Fort Dearborn in Chicago. [4] There Porter founded the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, and ministered to that congregation for he rest of his life. [3] However, when Porter left Sault Ste. Marie, the congregation there withered. [2]

Finally, in 1853, [3] Charles T. Harvey of the St. Mary's Fall Ship Canal Company revived the church and requested a new pastor. [2] Rev. William McCullough was assigned to minister to the Sault, and in 1854 a new church was constructed and the congregation was formally organized, making it the first such church in the Upper Peninsula. [3] However, McCullough soon contacted pneumonia and died, leaving the congregation once more without a pastor. The congregation dwindled yet again, until in 1860 there were only six members. [3]

In 1864, however, the congregation hired Rev. Thomas R. Easterday. [3] Easterday was considered quite liberal, and the church grew quickly under his leadership, growing to around 200 people. In about 1872, the congregation rebuilt the church. [3] However, in 1882, Easterday suffered a stroke and retired from active ministry, although he lived and participated in the community until his death in 1927. [3]

The church went through a series of pastors over the next few years, with Alexander P. Danskin serving from 1882 to 1886, Rev. Harlan Page Corey serving from 1886 to 1890, Rev. George W. Luther serving from 1890 to 1894, and C.P. Bates serving from 1894 to 1901. [3] During the early 1890s, the congregation bought a parcel of land, where the present church now stands, with the intention of erecting a new building in which to worship, the fourth such for the congregation. [3]

Rev. James A. Kennedy served the church from 1902 to 1912. [3] Preliminary work on the church building, including obtaining a design from architect Edward Demar, [2] had already been completed. [3] In August 1902, only four months after his arrival, Kennedy laid the cornerstone of the church. Construction was completed, and the building dedicated, on Easter Sunday 1903. [3]

1903 building description

The First Presbyterian Church was a Romanesque Revival structure built of Jacobsville Sandstone. [2] The main structure had a hip roof with two square towers with pyramid roofs, each containing entrances on their bases. A metal cornice topped each tower. The structure had a metal roof painted green to mimic tile. A wooden belt course ran across the front facade, and modern brick stairs approached the entryways. Inside the church, the gallery was shaped like a horseshoe, and the auditorium had a central pulpit with a choir area and organ behind. A 1957-58 educational wing was attached to the rear of the building. [2]

Later history

Cornerstone of new church FirstPresbyterianUnitedCornerstone-SaultSteMarieMI.jpg
Cornerstone of new church

Rev. Robert A. Bartlett took over from Kennedy, and served the congregation from 1912 to 1919. [3] Rev. R. Stanley Brown served from 1919 to 1925, Dr. John VerStraate served from 1925 to 1949, and Rev. David McClean served from 1949 to 1959. During his tenure an educational wing was constructed and new steps added to the church. Dr. Joseph Blackburn served from 1960 to 1971, Dr. James D. Lyman served from 1972 to 1981, Rev. John Kipp served from 1981 to 1987, and Rev. David Henderson served from 1988 to 2008. [3]

However, on Sunday, May 7, 2000, the church building caught fire and burned to the ground. [3] The fire likely originated from faulty electrical wire. Only a few items from the 1903 church were salvageable, including official church records, some of the dishes and silver, some of the stained glass windows, and some furniture, including a pew originally installed in the 1854 church. [3]

Although insurenace did not cover the cost of a new building, a decision was made to rebuild. [3] A new church was constructed to replace the 1903 structure, located on the same site. [3] Ground was broken on July 22, 2001; the cornerstone was laid September 30, 2002, and the first service was held in the structure August 10, 2003. [3]

After Rev. David Henderson retired in 2008, Dr. Richard Bates became the interim pastor, and in 2010 Rev. Mark Gabbard was installed as a permanent pastor. [3] The church continues to serve Sault Ste. Marie.

Related Research Articles

Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Church in New York, United States

Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) church in New York City. The church, on Fifth Avenue at 7 West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, has approximately 2,200 members and is one of the larger PCUSA congregations. The church, founded in 1808 as the Cedar Street Presbyterian Church, has been at this site since 1875.

First Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York)

The First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, New York was the first organized religious body formed in what was then the western frontier of New York State. The town of Buffalo was sparsely populated when the church was organized on February 2, 1812. However, having survived the War of 1812, the town of Buffalo was rebuilt and rapidly grew with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. The first two buildings were located on the same downtown lot. However, the congregation relocated between 1889 and 1891 to its present location approximately one and-a-half miles to the north in a more residential area.

First Bryan Baptist Church United States historic place

Historic First Bryan Baptist Church is an African-American church that was organized in Savannah, Georgia, by Andrew Bryan in 1788. Considered to be the Mother Church of Black Baptist, the site was purchased in 1793 by Bryan, a former slave who had also purchased his freedom. The first structure was erected there in 1794. By 1800 the congregation was large enough to split: those at Bryan Street took the name of First African Baptist Church, and Second and Third African Baptist churches were also established. The current sanctuary of First Bryan Baptist Church was constructed in 1873.

Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago) United States historic place

The Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago is one of the largest congregations of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), located in the Magnificent Mile neighborhood of Chicago, directly across Michigan Avenue from the John Hancock Center.

Ebenezer Academy, Bethany Presbyterian Church and Cemetery United States historic place

Ebenezer Academy, Bethany Presbyterian Church and Cemetery is a historic school building, Presbyterian church, and cemetery located six miles north of Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina. The log building was constructed in 1823 and housed Ebenezer Academy. The church building was built about 1855, and is a one-story, three bay by five bay, vernacular Greek Revival style frame building with a low gable roof. Also on the property is the contributing church cemetery with burials dating to about 1785.

Long Cane Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church United States historic place

Long Cane Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is a historic Associate Reformed Presbyterian church in McCormick County, South Carolina four miles west of Troy, South Carolina on SC 33-36. Adjacent to the church building is a cemetery dating to circa 1790.

Bethel Presbyterian Church (Clover, South Carolina) United States historic place

Bethel Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church near Clover, South Carolina.

Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church United States historic place

Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church is an historic church located in Kingsport, Tennessee. The church was organized May 20, 1820 as the Boatyard Congregation. It is the oldest one of any denomination in the city of Kingsport. It is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

First Presbyterian Church (Muscatine, Iowa) United States historic place

First Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian Church (USA) church located in Muscatine, Iowa, United States. It, along with the attached Sunday School building, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

First Presbyterian Church (Marion, Iowa) United States historic place

First Presbyterian Church is located in Marion, Iowa, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

First Presbyterian Church (Tulsa) Church in Oklahoma, U.S.

The First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa was organized in 1885 in Creek Nation, Indian Territory, before statehood. It originally met in the store owned by brothers James M. Hall and Harry C. Hall, and was served by itinerant, circuit-riding ministers.

First Presbyterian Church (Troy, Ohio) United States historic place

First Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church building in the city of Troy, Ohio, United States. Built in the 1860s, it was the third building used by a congregation formed nearly fifty years earlier. A high-quality example of period Romanesque Revival architecture, it has been named a historic site.

Central Methodist Episcopal Church (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) United States historic place

Central Methodist Episcopal Church is a United States historic church at 111 E. Spruce Street in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1993.

Saint James Episcopal Church (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) United States historic place

Saint James' Episcopal Church is a historic church at 533 Bingham Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Hugh Cowan Canadian minister

Rev. Hugh Cowan was a Presbyterian Church in Canada and later United Church of Canada minister, author, editor and historian.

Eckert Presbyterian Church United States historic place

Eckert Presbyterian Church previously known as First Presbyterian Church of Eckert is an historic church in Eckert, Colorado.

Church of the Pilgrims (Washington, D.C.) Church in D.C., United States

The Church of the Pilgrims is a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation located in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The congregation was founded in 1903 as the Second Southern Presbyterian Church and took its current name in 1919. The congregation resides in a Gothic Revival church located at 22nd Street NW and P Street NW. The building was designed by architect Benjamin C. Flournoy of Baltimore, Maryland, and completed in March 1929.

First Presbyterian Church (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) Church in Mississippi, United States

First Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian congregation in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, founded in 1882 by Rev. A. B. Coit. It was the first church in the town and predated Hattiesburg's own incorporation by two years. In 1973 it left the Presbyterian Church in the United States to become a charter member of the more theologically conservative Presbyterian Church in America.

Central Presbyterian Church (New York City) Church in New York, United States

Central Presbyterian Church is a historic congregation on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, founded by pastor and abolitionist William Patton in 1821. It is a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and it worships in a Gothic Revival structure completed in 1922 that was originally commissioned and largely funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. as Park Avenue Baptist Church.

Westminster Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles) Active Christian community

Westminster Presbyterian Church is in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Westminster Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii and Pacific Presbytery. The congregation, established in 1904, is one of the oldest African American Presbyterian churches in California and west of the Mississippi River.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "First United Presbyterian Church". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Our History". First United Presbyterian Church of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  4. ↑ "The History of First Presbyterian Church of Chicago". First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. Retrieved April 22, 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.