About Us

Several years before Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States, a small group of people from Byron Township gathered and started a bible class which met in the old McKenney School located one mile west of Byron Center.  Just before the American Civil War started, a slightly larger group of people gathered and organized a Methodist Church.  With the war over and our nation charting a new course in history, an ever-growing congregation gathered around a pot-bellied stove and began charting a course that would take God's word into the 20th century.

In 1872, work began on the church building located at the corner of Prescott and Freeland in the small village of Byron Center.  The building was dedicated in March of 1973.  During the past 118 years, this congregation has gathered from time to time to expand and adjust the building in order to meet the needs of an ever changing membership.

Shortly after the building was completed, a need for more space became apparent.  Plans for building a basement were discussed at various times and twice the project had been started and money donated.  During the Depression, the funds were lost in the bank closure and plans for the basement were abandoned.  Finally, in 1942, the Women's Society for Christian Service took full responsibility for the basement project; and with much volunteer labor, the project was completed.  Also, during the last half of the 1940's , the brick parsonage was built.  In the early 1960's the interior of the church was completely remodeled.

During the late 1960's and early 1970's growth in the church was rather minimal.  We did, however, purchase an Allen electric organ.  The exterior of the church was covered with white vinyl siding, eliminating the job of painting, which was especially hazardous on the steeple.  New carpet was laid in the basement and narthex and the parsonage was redecorated.

The 1980's saw a rapid growth pattern in the Byron Center area.  In 1987, Reverend William Doubblestein became our pastor.  Under his leadership, and that of his wife Karen, the church began to experience rapid growth.  The problem of adequate space was most apparent in trying to run the Sunday School program.

After many months of serious study, it was decided that we should enlarge our present structure.  At a special Charge Conference on August 18, 1991, the congregation approved the purchase of a condominium to be used as the parsonage and accepted the bid of Robert Weaver Construction in the amount of $450,000 for the construction of the Fellowship Hall and Education Wing.  In addition, the original structure was to be remodeled and the parking area extended.  Ground breaking services were held on Sunday, October 20, 1991.

Before construction could begin, the parsonage had to be removed.  It was sold and moved to its new foundation at 2437 - 8th Street.  When the parsonage was built in 1948, it replaced the original parsonage which dated to the 1870's.  The older building was also moved to a new location.  It now stands at 2443 Prescott Street and is the residence of a member of our congregation.

Construction of the new addition began during the winter of 1991-1992.  Workers labored in the rain, mud, snow, and bitter cold to keep the project on schedule.  By the spring of 1992, we had created  a beautiful new addition.  On Saturday, June 13, 1992, the first wedding was celebrated in the new, but still unfinished, Fellowship Hall. 

In June 2004 we had a pastoral change. The Rev. C. Greene became our new pastor. In May 2005 the church voted in a Town Hall to purchase 27 acres as an extension campus. This land is just across Homerich from the West Middle School. This decision was officially approved at a Charge Conference June 2005. June 30, 2005 we became the new owners of said 27 acres. In July we asked God to bless the land in a special Blessing Service. This land will serve as an extension campus. We will, of course, be keeping and using our wonderful, historic campus on Prescott.