First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon facts for kids
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First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 61041 Vermont St., Pokagon Township, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000295 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 1, 2002 |
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon is a very old and important building in Pokagon Township, Michigan. Many people also know it as the Old Rugged Cross Church. This is because a famous song, "The Old Rugged Cross," was first sung here!
This church is a special historic place. It was listed as a Michigan State Historic Site in 2000. Then, in 2002, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as important across the whole country.
Contents
History of the Old Rugged Cross Church
Early Days of the Church
Methodist preachers, called "circuit-riders," started holding church services in Pokagon Township in the 1830s. These preachers traveled from place to place to share their message. By 1840, a group of church members was officially formed in a nearby town called Sumnerville. Eventually, this group grew and became the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon.
From Barn to Church
The building you see today was first built around 1862. But it wasn't a church back then! It was actually a large barn used for storing hops, which are plants used to make beer.
In 1876, the First Methodist Episcopal Church bought the barn. They worked hard to change it into a church. They made it bigger and added many new features. These included a bell tower (which is no longer there), special pointed windows, beautiful stained glass, and rows of pews for people to sit on.
The Famous Hymn: "The Old Rugged Cross"
A very important event happened at this church in 1913. The church's pastor, Reverend Leroy Bostwick, invited his friend, Reverend George Bennard, to visit. Reverend Bennard came to help with a series of special church meetings.
During one of these meetings, the church choir sang a brand new song. It was Reverend Bennard's hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross." This was the very first time the song was performed in public! After its first performance, Reverend and Mrs. Bostwick paid to have the song printed. "The Old Rugged Cross" quickly became one of the most popular hymns in the United States.
Changes Over the Years
In 1914, the church congregation bought a different church building nearby. They then sold their old church building to a man named John Phillips. He used it as a storage barn for many years.
In 1998, the old church building was bought again. This time, it was purchased to be restored and brought back to its original glory. The restoration work was a huge project! By 2013, about 85% of the work was done, and over $800,000 had been spent. The restoration was finally finished in 2021.
In 2013, the church received a special honor. It won a Governor's Award for Historic Preservation. This award recognized all the hard work put into saving and restoring this important piece of history.
What the Church Looks Like
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon is a rectangular building. It has two stories and measures about 90 feet long and 28 feet wide. The roof is shaped like a triangle, which is called a gable roof. The outside walls are covered with horizontal wooden siding.
At the front of the church, there's an entryway that sticks out. It also has a gabled roof. Along the sides of the building, you can see tall windows with pointed tops.
Inside the church, the main area is a large room called the sanctuary. This is where church services were held. It has a flat ceiling. At the back of the church, there's a kitchen. Above the kitchen, there's another area that was used for Sunday school classes.
