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"Kenneth Karl Coan, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen." This simple ceremony, the baptism of the Coan baby, in the Lincoln Park church, led to the inception of a church for the Van Born community, at which time had no church or spiritual advisor. Investigation disclosed the need for a church. A handful of residents, among them Mrs. Everett Mull, Mrs. Robert Wolford, Mrs. James Brown and others turned to Rev. Longfield for guidance. Dr. W. E. Harrison, superintendent of the Ann Arbor district of the Methodist church, in cooperation with the Methodist Union of Detroit, soon had plans under way to organize a church school. Permission was obtained from the Dearborn Board of Education for the use of a portable one room school house situated on Robinson and Van Born. The first Sunday School session was held March 21, 1937, at 10 o'clock, at Lincoln Park Methodist Church, the school house not having been heated that morning. Rev. Longfield conducted the Sunday School session. Rev. W. C. L. Phillips, an accepted supply of the Methodist church, was put in charge of determining the need for a church in the Van Born community. To ascertain the religious preferences of the community a tri-church conference was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Brown, on Detroit street. The result of previous investigations showed a slight of preponderance of Methodists in the community. It was voted to organize the new church under Methodist leadership as the Van Born Community Methodist Church. With assistance of the Ann Arbor district and the Detroit Conference, land was obtained on the Southwest corner of Pelham and Powers roads. Dr. Harrison located an abandoned church building in Wayne, Michigan. This was moved to the Pelham - Powers site. At the dedication of this building, September 26, 1937, by Dr. Harrison, membership amounted to 25, with another 150 attending Sunday School. Among the organizations formed were the Ladies Aid, a chapter of Boy Scouts and a Young People's Society.
Van Born Community Methodist Church
Mrs. Everett Mull was Superintendent of the Sunday School, and Mrs. Robert Wolford was Assistant Superintendent. Mrs. James Brown was President of the Ladies Aid. Due to declining health Rev. Phillips could no longer carry on. In 1938, Rev. J. T. M. Stephens, a retired member of the Detroit Conference, was put in charge.
Rev. J. T. M. Stephens Under the guidance of Rev. Stephens, an addition which formed the sanctuary, was built by the men of the church and a loan from the Methodist Union was paid off. The following organizations were in active force:
By 1941, the building was completed and dedication ceremonies were held. The highlight of 1943 was the Golden Jubilee of Rev. Stephens' ministry in the Methodist church. However, grave illness had set in for Mrs. Stephens which necessitated Rev. Stephens' constant attendance making it very difficult for him to continue his ministry. Rev. Frederick Burr Clifford succeeded Rev. Stephens in 1943. He and Mrs. Clifford occupied the newly acquired parsonage at 20201 Annapolis. A new building fund was started and five lots for a new church structure were purchased. This new church would be on the Northwest corner of Pelham & Powers, across the street from the then present building.
A view of the church property
In 1947, Dr. Clifford accepted an offer to teach at Adrian College. He was succeeded by Rev. Harold Youngberg, who served the church until 1950. Rev. J. Brabner Smith then took charge. In 1951, Rev. Lawrence Worth became the pastor and served until his death, in 1953. The new building fund drive started under his direction was carried on by his widow, Mrs. Alice Worth, who was appointed pastor by Bishop Marshall Reed. During Mrs. Worth's pastorage, the name of Van Born Community Methodist Church was changed to that of Stephens Methodist Church, in honor of Rev. J. T. M. Stephens, pastor emeritus.
Rev. Lawrence & Mrs. Alice Worth Groundbreaking ceremonies were held May 29, 1955 for the new Stephens Methodist Church, on the Northwest corner of Powers and Pelham roads. Dr. LaVerne Finch, District Superintendent of the Ann Arbor District of the Methodist Church was the guest speaker. Mrs. Worth was witnessing her late husband's dream come true in this groundbreaking. In June 1955, Rev. Howard M. Montgomery was appointed pastor by the annual Detroit Conference. Continuing with the new building project, the purchase of one more lot, "Dearborn Township, Edford Park Subdivision, Lot #6", was reported by the building committee. Thus the building site was now in proper form and shape.
Rev. & Mrs. Howard M. Montgomery Construction actually began in mid July, 1955, with excavation of the basement. The cornerstone laying ceremony was on October 9, 1955. Rev. Stephens was on hand to deliver the prayer of consecration. The new building was finished in February of 1956. At the time it was very modern: including a sanctuary with seating for 300 people, a nursery, a public address system, a full basement with classrooms for 250, a kitchen and hall for social activities of the church. It cost about $71,000.
Stephens (United) Methodist Church
In 1962, a new parsonage was built on the Southwest corner of Powers and Pelham roads, in place of the old church building. On Sunday, June 11, 1972, at 10:30 a.m., groundbreaking ceremonies were held for a new Church School unit addition. Plans for this addition had been in the works for many years. The addition provides for six new Church School classrooms, a crib room, junior lavatories and a kindergarten room. Along with this new educational unit, several other improvements were made, including: a youth division & recreation room on the upper floor, enlarged kitchen area, a parlor, choir rehearsal room, pastor's study, secretary's office, supply storage rooms, book & audio-visual library, a complete new hot water heating system and improved parking facilities. Consecration Services for the new $206,000 addition were held at 2:30
p.m. on February 25, 1973.
This history was assembled from a variety of sources located in the church history archive folder in the office. |
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 Methodist Church (1956 - 1972).JPG)
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