History of the Churches in Garden City, Wayne County, Michigan

Presbyertian Church

The Garden City Presbyterian Church dates its beginnings back to at least August 14, 1840, making it one of the oldest Churches in comparison with many others in Wayne County Townships. The organization has used several names and five Presbyterian demoninations, and in two locations.
In the early day, the community that was centered around the rural Presbyterian Church, was long known as the Irish Settlement, peopled by Protestant Irish from County Cavin, Ulster, Ireland. The land was settled under grants, at least one of which was signed by Andrew Jackson then President of the United States. Michigan Avenue was a plank toll road and there were few other roads around. Pioneer homes were connected by foot trials, and the farms were self-sufficient, cash money coming from butter and eggs carried to Detroit. Wheat was sown broadcast by hand, cut with a sickle, beaten with a flail and winnowed in the wind.
The church building was originally located at the northeast corner of now Ford and Inkster Roads, on a lot that cost only twelve cents. It continued at this location for 88 years. The ld plain, oblong, timber building was replaced with a more "churchly" structure, basically square shaped, with a steeple and bell, in 1894. This building was later sold to the Free Methodist Church, whom used the structure for a number of years. The Presbyterian Church was moved into Garden City on the other side of Inkster Road and further north, later torn down, and rebuilt in their present location still further north.
At it's old location, the church took the name of East Nankin Presbyterian Church, probably because during those years, a post office named East Nankin combined with a country store, saw mill, and a shoe shop run by Frances Stringer were all located here. Nover strong enough to have a full time pastor, it was necessary that the church shared pastors with other communities. For a number of years, the East Nankin Presbyterian Church shared pastors with First Presbyterian Church of Dearborn.
When Arnold Folker bought the farms in the Garden City area, subdivided them, and sold the lots of a quarter acre or a half acre in size, the old church would have been located on business development lands. Detroit Presbyterian, helped in the relocation and a half acre was bought from John Hauk, for $3,000. A new brick building was constructed and dedicated October 28, 1928.

Free Will Baptist
In May of 1959, a small group of people, about four families, started having meetings in a house at 29879 Dawson, Garden City, and at that time their Pastor was Bob Jones. As the group grew they decided to build a church. The location they chse was next door to the house on Dawson. The women worked right along side of the men, helping lay blocks, tar roofing, and whatever else was needed to be done.
When they moved into the new building, their pastor was Reverend Sherman Napier, and the year was 1963. Pastor Napier stayed until May of 1966, when he resigned, and was replaced with Reverend Samuel S. Clay

Free Methodist

In the year 1922, Arley W. Downer was the supply pastor of the Redford Free Methodist Church, he personally purchased an old frame church, (Presbyterian Church) for the amount of $700. He began to conduct Sunday afternoon services in the building and started some cottage prayer meetings in the Garden City area.
In 1929, the church became Nankin Township Free Methodist Church, and the church building itself was relocated to Inkster Road and Beechwood, where it remained until 1956. During Garden City's population boom, a site 4 times as large was secured at Inkster Road and Maplewood.

Saint Raphael Roman Catholic

Saint Raphael Archangel Parish was established in June, 1932, through the organizational efforts of Silvio Clemente and some 25 Catholic families. Reverend Gereon Stack, was appointed Pastor.
The first 3 Masses were read on the second floor of the Folker Building. Elmer Metras and Edna Pulford were the first united in the parish on October 23, 1932.
The cornerstone fo the first church at Merriman and Beechwood was laid October 7, 1934; the Church was officially opened for Christmas Mass, December 23, 1934.
Following Father Stack win 1939, was Father Anthony Kirshner until 1944, when the congregation was transferred to diocesan administration.

Good Hope Lutheran

Good Hope Lutherna Church is located on Cherry Hill Road, just east of Middlebelt. This congregation has grown since its infancy in 1955.
Worship services were first held in Lathers Elementary School in February 1955, under the leadership of Pastor George Volkmar. The building itself was completed in February 1958.
Good Hope is a member of the Michigan Synod of the Lutheran Church in America, and cooperates fully with the member churches of the Garden City Pastor's Association.

First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church of Garden City had its beginnings among Baptist people who lived in the Garden City area, but had church membership elsewehre.
Since there were no Baptist Churches in the immediate vicinity at the time, prayer, and missionary meetings were held in homes opened to those interested in a church in the area.
Under the aggressive leadership of Mr & Mrs James Pickel, a program of census calling was initiated to ascertain the interest of residents in the area. Feeling confident that there was such an interst, a few families began holding Sunday School and worship services in the old Civic Hall.
On February 27, 1937, the Garden City Baptist Church was organized with 63 charter members. It wasn't long before the need for a new building was required. An one acre plot at the corner of Middlebelt and Beechwood was purchased, and by October 9, 1938, a church building was built.
Reverend Benjamin Eicher, Reverend Ray Garret and Reverend Irving F. Rose were the first pastors of the congregation.

United Baptist Church

The United Baptist Church Of Garden City was formed when the Temple Baptist Church of Garden City and the Calvary Baptist Temple of Redford merged together in August 1974.
The Former Temple Baptist Church itself, had started in a tent and organized in 1953.

The history of Methodism in the Perrinsville area began in the fall of 1825, when Reverend Marcus Swift and his family together with the William Osband family moved here from Palmyra, New York.
The first meetings were held in Rev. Swift's home, later in other people's homes. As more people moved into the area, his work increased adn the circuit was enlarged to cover 125 miles. Services were held at Perrinsville once in 4 weeks, later one in 2 weeks, and still ater every week.
Between 1830 and 1833, meetings were held in the Swarzburg school near Wayne Road and Ann Arbor Trial. Then the first Perrinsville school on Swift's property was used. It was situated at the southeast corner of Warren and Merriman Roads.
A sabbath school was begun around 1830. One of its first superintendents was William White whose wife, Emily owned 80 acres at what is now the northwest corner of Ford Road and Henry Ruff.
The question of slavery split the church and in 1841, most of this society left and went with the Wesley group, opposed to slavery, using the Perrinsville school.
The remaining Methodists carried on successfully and managed to build a small church in 1847. When President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, was ordered, the differences seemed to vanish and the members rejoined the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In the spring of 1895, the old church was torn down, and a new church was erected and dedicated on August 10, 1895. During the trying times of the changed from a rural community to a suburban community, membership dropped until finally in 1936, services were discontinued, and plans were made to moved the church into the suburb area, where it has been running successfully at Chester and Merriman Roads.

Pilgrims Mission

The Pilgrim's Mission Church had its beginning in Garden City in the early part of 1952. Reverend Lucas and his wife, egan holding services in the home of Harold Nichols with four other families attending.
In June of 1952, a hall was rented and the crowds soon became to large to be accomodated by the hall. The Pilgrim's Mission moved to 33500 Ford Road in February 1953, and held services until June 1965.
This building too became too small, and in June 1968 congregation moved to 5737 Middlebelt Road. Since moving, they have added 6 sunday school rooms and an auditorium.

Merriman Road Baptist Church

The Merriman Road Baptist Church was organized in 1953 with 21 members:

Darnell, Harry & Helen
Denny, Hazel
Glover, Palmer, Arnold, & Jeanette
Hollowell, Raymond & Ora
Lancaster, Mathew, Leitha, & Roberta
McCormick, Thomas, Gala, Marcelle, & Merle
Nesmith, Wesley & Gerald
Russell Frences
Street, Thomas J. , Hurle H. , & Donna L.
The present membership is over 800.
Rev H.T. Starkey, became the first pastor in 1953 and served until 1963. He also served as the first president of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan.

Saint David's Episcopal

Saint David's Episcopal Church was started March 27, 1955 as a parochial mission of Christ Episcopal Church of Dearborn. The pastor was Reverend John Weaver.
Services were first held in the gymnasium of the Garden City Memorial School. By the end of that year, 49 families were on the membership list.
By December 1956, the membership had grown to 80 families.
In 1958, the building was erected with a membership reaching over 100 families. By the end of 1963, there were 219 families on the church rosters.

Garden City Church of Christ

December 16, 1951, is the date of the beginning of the Garden City Church of Christ, in a rented store building on the corner of Ford Road and Helen Street.
In 1954 property was purchased at Middlebelt and Bock Street and a building was erected by 1955. From its beginnings in 1951, the membership has grown from 7 members to over 475. Only adult are included as members. The Sunday School averages beter than 400 each week and morning worship averages over 550.
Virgil Bracewell, Lee Choate, Warren Holmes and James Whitehead were the founding elders.

Community Baptist Church

The Community Baptist Church was begun in the summer of 1945. A group of about 10 families started an independent Baptist church in the area. Robert Burklow, a charter member was the one to give the new church it's name.
In November 1945, the group began holding Sunday School and church services in the Recreation Building, and later property was purchased at Warren and Lathers. The new building was heated by an old wood and coal stov, had running watter and rest rooms. Over the following three years, the growing church had built three additions.
In April 1949, Reverend James B. Allen became pastor. The public has always been invited to attend services and yield to the preaching of the gospel.
Contributed by Linda Ball