Muir Church of Christ facts for kids
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Muir Church of Christ
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The church in January 2015
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 138 Garden St. Muir, Michigan |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1861 |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000852 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 17, 1983 |
The Muir Church of Christ, also known as the First Christian Church of Muir, is a historic church building. You can find it at 138 Garden Street in Muir, Michigan, United States. This church was built in 1861. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's a special place that should be protected.
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The Muir Church of Christ began in 1856. It started in Lyons, Michigan with 25 members. These members were part of a Christian group called the Disciples of Christ. The first pastor, or leader, was Reverend Isaac Errett.
At first, meetings were held in Lyons. But soon, the group moved their meetings to the schoolhouse in Muir. By 1858, the church had grown quite a lot. There were 148 members! Because of this growth, the church building you see today was built in 1861. It cost $3,215.06 to build.
The Muir church was very important for the Disciples of Christ group in the Grand River Valley area. It is one of the oldest Disciples of Christ churches in Michigan. Isaac Errett, the first pastor, stayed with the church until 1866. He was often away, though. He helped start another church in Detroit. He also helped soldiers during the American Civil War. Errett was a good friend of James A. Garfield. Garfield later became a US President. He even visited the Muir church in 1861!
What the Church Looks Like
The Muir Church of Christ is a single-story building. It is shaped like a rectangle. The church is gray and made of wood. It has a special style called Gothic. The outside walls are covered with a type of siding called board-and-batten. It sits on a low foundation made of fieldstone.
The church is about 70 feet long and 30 feet wide. In the front, there is a square tower that sticks out. This tower has a cross-gable roof at the top. It also has a belfry, which is where a bell would be. At the bottom of the tower, there are two entry doors. Each side of the church has five tall, pointed windows. These are called Gothic windows. They each have a divider in the middle.
Inside the church, you first enter a small area called a vestibule. From there, you go into the main worship area, called the sanctuary. The floor in the sanctuary is made of dark-stained pine wood. The walls are smooth plaster. The floor slopes gently downwards from the entrance towards the front. There are four rows of wooden benches, called pews. These pews are arranged with one main aisle in the middle and two smaller aisles on the sides. The pulpit, where the pastor speaks, is on a small raised platform. The ceiling in the sanctuary is made of pressed metal. This ceiling likely dates back to 1906.
