Central Methodist Episcopal Church (Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan) facts for kids
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Central Methodist Episcopal Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 111 E. Spruce St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Dillon P. Clark |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Part of | Sault Ste. Marie Historic Commercial District (ID100005683) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000537 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1984 |
The Central United Methodist Church in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is a very old and important building. It used to be called the Central Methodist Episcopal Church. This church is located at 111 East Spruce Street.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's recognized as a special historic place in the United States. In 1993, it was also named a Michigan State Historic Site.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Methodist Missionaries
The first Methodist missionaries came to Sault Ste. Marie in 1833. A missionary named Rev. John Clarke was sent to work in the area. In 1834, he built a Methodist mission. This mission included 13 log houses, a school, and a special mission building.
Rev. Clarke later moved to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Rev. W. H. Brockway took his place. After Brockway, Rev. John H. Pitzel led the mission from 1843 to 1860. The mission eventually closed in 1864.
Starting a New Congregation
Methodism almost disappeared in Sault Ste. Marie for a while. But in 1873, Rev. Isaac Johnson arrived. He officially started a new Methodist church group that year.
The first church building was quite small, about 20 feet by 40 feet. It was built on Portage Avenue. Later, this small building was moved to where the current church stands on Spruce Street. The church group kept growing, so the building was made bigger several times. A large addition was built onto the back.
Building the New Church
By 1890, the church group needed even more space. They decided they needed a brand new building. People liked the design of a new church in Owosso, Michigan. So, the Sault Ste. Marie church hired the same architect, Dillon P. Clark. He was from Bay City, Michigan.
Construction on the new church began in 1892. The old church building was moved across Spruce Street. It is still there today. The new Central Methodist Episcopal Church was officially opened on July 1, 1894.
Fires and Repairs
The church has had three fires over the years. The first fire happened in 1904. It completely destroyed the inside of the church. This was sad because the inside had just been updated the year before.
A second, smaller fire happened in 1934. Then, a third fire occurred in 1941 during a World War II blackout. The inside of the church was badly damaged again in this fire. Even with all the damage inside, the outside of the church still looks almost the same as it did when it was first built.
Major repairs were made to the church in the mid-1950s. In 1969, plans were made for a new educational wing. This addition was built between 1970 and 1971. The church is still used by the Methodist group for worship today.
What the Church Looks Like
The Sault Ste. Marie Central United Methodist Church is a multi-story building. It is built in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. This style often uses heavy stone and round arches. The church is made of red sandstone. This stone was leftover from an earlier attempt to build a canal.
The church has a cross-gable plan, which means its roof looks like a cross from above. It sits on a raised foundation. The building has a wide roof with smaller gables attached. The church is about 75 feet wide and 108 feet long. It has three balconies inside and can seat 1200 people.
Special Features of the Building
- Main Tower: There is a large square tower in one corner. It has a pointed, pyramid-shaped roof. This tower has unique arched windows on the first floor. The upper levels have tall, louvered windows.
- Circular Turret: On the opposite corner of the front side, there is a round tower called a turret. It has arched designs under its roof.
- Entrance: Between the main tower and the turret, there are small doorways on each side of a central section. These are used to enter the church.
- Stained Glass: The east side of the church has a large set of beautiful stained glass windows. These windows have rounded tops.
- Stone Beltcourse: A dark red stone band goes all the way around the building. This is called a beltcourse.
- Modern Annex: A two-story addition with a modern design is attached to the back of the church.
