OUR HISTORY
Vergennes United Methodist Church - Established in 1843
PURPOSE STATEMENT: Vergennes Church... a place to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.
In the spring of 1843, families around the area met at the log home
of Anthony Yerkes to form the first Methodist Church in Vergennes Township.
Rev. Bush preached the first sermon. Regular meetings followed in barns,
log schools, and homes. Circuit Riders did the weekly preaching until 1864.
By 1864, the existing church was built on land donated by the Smith
Bailey family and was known as the Bailey Church. It was officially listed
as the First Methodist Church of Vergennes. The church has been aligned at
different times with Keene, Fallasburg, Grand Rapids Trinity, Lowell, and
Snow Churches. Vergennes was associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church
before the merger in the early 1900's.
In 1968, a room was added to the east of the sanctuary, called the
Friendship Room. The Township Hall next door was used for activities
involving food preparation and large gatherings... that was 104 years with
no kitchen or water provisions on the premises!
In 1982, construction began on the new Celebration Center on the
north end of the Sanctuary and Friendship Room. A contractor dug and
poured the foundation of the lower level, and constructed the outer shell of
the building. Volunteers finished the interior as time and funds permitted.
The Celebration Center was dedicated on October 13, 1985 and is used by many
different groups from within and beyond the church. In 1990, the narthex
was completely remodeled and opened up to the sanctuary. At the same time,
the Friendship Room was refurbished and a study was added for the Pastor.
By 1999, the Vergennes Church expanded again. The congregation grew
considerably and now had two worship services, a full-time pastor, part-time
secretary, beautifully landscaped church grounds, and blacktopped parking
lot. At the same time, the present sanctuary had reached its seating
capacity. On June 13, 1999, Vergennes Church experienced a "Miracle Sunday"
and received gifts well over our goal to finance the complete renovation of
the sanctuary including reversing the configuration of the pews, creating a
larger Pastor's office, and providing space for the church secretary. We
were able to increase our seating capacity in the sanctuary by nearly 80%.
The Miracle Sunday also raised enough funds to set aside money for further
land acquisition when needed. We continue to see measurable numerical
growth that is simply the natural result of the spiritual growth that is
taking place inwardly. Around three hundred people worshiped here on Easter
Sunday, 2003.
By God's grace, Vergennes makes the commitment to serve Christ for
many years to come. We will continue to invite people to join us in a
life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Point of Interest: The Vergennes Church is the oldest, continuously serving
church in the Grand Rapids District of the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.
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