First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon
About this property
The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon (also known as the Old Rugged Cross Church) is a historic church at 61041 Vermont Street in Pokagon Township, Michigan. It is the location of the first performance of the hymn "The Old Rugged Cross." The church was listed as a Michigan State Historic Site in 2000 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Methodist circuit-riders began holding religious services in Pokagon Township in the 1830s. In 1840, a class was organized in Sumnerville. Eventually, the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon was organized. In approximately 1862, this building was constructed as a hop barn. In 1876, the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon purchased the building and enlarged and remodeled it into a church. A belfry (later removed) was added, as were pointed-head windows, stained glass, and interior pews. In 1913, the church's pastor Rev. Leroy Bostwick invited his friend. the Rev. George Bennard, to Pokagon to assist in a series of revival meetings at the church. At the meeting, the church choir performed Bennard's newly penned hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross;" it was the first time the hymn was performed in public. Afterward, the Reverend and Mrs. Bostwick financed the first printing of the "Old Rugged Cross," and it quickly became one of the most popular hymns in the United States. In 1914, the congregation purchased the nearby Baptist church, selling this church to John Phillips, who used it as a storage barn. He removed the floor, and the building slowly fell into disrepair. In 1998, the church was purchased for restoration. As of 2013, the restoration was 85% complete, with over $800,000 spent. The same year, the church received a Governor's Award for Historic Preservation. The restoration was finished in 2021. The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon is a rectangular, two-story vernacular building measuring 90 feet (27 m) by 28 feet (8.5 m). It has a gable roof and horizontal bevel-edge siding. A gabled entryway projects from the front facade, and pointed-head windows line the sides. Inside, a flat-ceilinged sanctuary takes up most of the space, with a kitchen at the rear. A Sunday school area is located above the kitchen. National Register of Historic Places listings in Cass County, Michigan
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon
This page lists First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon listed on the National Register?
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 31, 2002.
What type of historic resource is First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon?
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon?
The period of significance for First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Cass County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Cass County.
Explore CassCounty ›More historic places in Michigan
Browse all historic places in Michigan.
View Michiganhistoric sites ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.