Our History
1857
Judge Henry H. Booth (Allegan County's first judge) erects a large building for a private school in a beautiful pine grove in the western part of Allegan Village. In 1865, Booth sells Pine Grove Seminary to the school district.
1858
June 10: Ten people meet at the house of Judge Booth to organize a new church. N. B. West is chosen as Moderator and Andrew Oliver as Clerk (or Scribe). They adopt Articles of Faith and a Covenant. A few days later, two other people join the original ten. This group constitutes the twelve Charter Members.
June 19: Rev. William Wolcott, a minister of the Kalamazoo Associate, meets with the members of the new church at the home of Judge Booth. After examining the church's proceedings up to this point, he decides that the church has been properly organized and extends the fellowship of the Congregational churches.
June 20: The first Sunday service is held in Pine Grove Seminary, the Rev. Wolcott officiating. In the early days of the church, preaching is irregular. However, the members consistently meet twice each week: once on Sunday at the school and a second time for a midweek prayer meeting in their homes.
September 4: The first Communion Service is led by Elizur Andrus, the minister of the Congregational Church in Niles, MIchigan. He later serves the Allegan church as pastor from 1865 to 1870). He returns to Allegan and serves as deacon in 1892. He is present at the 40th Anniversary celebration in 1898.
October 13: The church joins the Kalamazoo Association of Congregational Churches and Ministers.
November 6: After being called to the pulpit, Rev. David Wirt gives his first sermon. He serves the church through 1860.
1860
May 16: The Ladies Mite Society is organized to “aid in supplying the temporal needs of the parish.”
1862
July 25: The legal incorporation of the “Articles of Association of the First Congregational Church of Allegan” is signed by J.B. Bailey, N.B. West, George Oliver Sr., J.H. Mayhew, E. D. Follett, L. F. Waldo, A. Waldo, A. Oliver and Carlos Baker. Trustees are N. B. West, J. H. Mayhew, and Leonard Bailey.
1864
A lot on Cutler Street is donated to the church by Henry H. Booth. A plain edifice is erected for $2,700 on a lot donated after the house previously existing on the lot is moved to 313 Pine Street where it is divided in half. The house still stands today.
According to Armstrong and Pahl in River and Lake, A Sesquicentennial History of Allegan County (204), the Civil War had a strong impact on churches – and it can be inferred that this would be true of the Congregational Church. “Church services and attendance increased greatly during the war years. Many diaries of the period show very little other social activity.” This was due, no doubt, both to the absence of men and to the feeling that such social activities “were not considered proper under the circumstances. Bazaars were held to raise money for charitable purposes and groups of women were encouraged to hold bees for the rolling of bandages, knitting of socks, scarves, and mittens and … other items useful to the troops.” Two Civil War Generals worshiped in the First Congregational Church – General Benjamin Pritchard and General Elisha Mix.
1865
January 1: The church building is dedicated.
April 14: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is shot; he dies the next morning. Communities and churches all across the country mourn his death. According to newspaper accounts, the first public service of the new church building is a community memorial for Abraham Lincoln.
1875
The parsonage is built across the street from the church for $2,000.
May 16: The Women’s Missionary Society is organized with 13 members to “contribute to Congregational benevolent societies.”
1877
Under the ministry of John Sailor, services are held at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sabbath School is held after the morning service; prayer meetings are held on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
1882
The church is rebuilt for $4,100.
November 16: The church is rededicated.
1884
A “young people’s prayer meeting” is established.
March 12: Fire destroys much of Allegan’s business district; praise God, the church is safe.
1886
The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor (YPSCE) was organized to replace the prayer meeting established two years before. In two years, the Society grew from 12 to 42 members. Reports showed they were “always ready to help in the every good work.”
1889
The clerk records names of church absentees, who are then approached by a committee asking that they agree to attend regularly or have their names dropped from the roll.
1897
The chapel is enlarged for $1,300 after membership grows to 211. An All-time record Sunday School attendance of 218 is recorded on March 22nd.
1920
Because of WWI fuel shortages, the Presbyterians close their church and unite with the Congregational Church to form the First Federated Church of Allegan. At the first annual members meeting, with 250 present, only three votes are cast against continuing the Federation. However, at the end of the year, the Presbyterians return to their own sanctuary.
1937
At the annual meeting, the church's name is changed from First Federated Church back to First Congregational Church.
1965
October 3: The congregation votes to join the United Church of Christ denomination.
1973
October 8: The congregation votes to withdraw from the United Church of Christ and become a member of the National Association of Congregational Churches.
2008
June 8: During the morning worship service, the church commemorates its 150th Anniversary. After the service an open house is held where members dress in vintage clothing from the 1800's. Under the leadership of the women's fellowship and the diaconate church tours are given along with an ice cream social. There is also the signing of the sesquicentennial quilt which was made by members of the congregation from materials provided by the women's fellowship.
Judge Henry H. Booth (Allegan County's first judge) erects a large building for a private school in a beautiful pine grove in the western part of Allegan Village. In 1865, Booth sells Pine Grove Seminary to the school district.
1858
June 10: Ten people meet at the house of Judge Booth to organize a new church. N. B. West is chosen as Moderator and Andrew Oliver as Clerk (or Scribe). They adopt Articles of Faith and a Covenant. A few days later, two other people join the original ten. This group constitutes the twelve Charter Members.
June 19: Rev. William Wolcott, a minister of the Kalamazoo Associate, meets with the members of the new church at the home of Judge Booth. After examining the church's proceedings up to this point, he decides that the church has been properly organized and extends the fellowship of the Congregational churches.
June 20: The first Sunday service is held in Pine Grove Seminary, the Rev. Wolcott officiating. In the early days of the church, preaching is irregular. However, the members consistently meet twice each week: once on Sunday at the school and a second time for a midweek prayer meeting in their homes.
September 4: The first Communion Service is led by Elizur Andrus, the minister of the Congregational Church in Niles, MIchigan. He later serves the Allegan church as pastor from 1865 to 1870). He returns to Allegan and serves as deacon in 1892. He is present at the 40th Anniversary celebration in 1898.
October 13: The church joins the Kalamazoo Association of Congregational Churches and Ministers.
November 6: After being called to the pulpit, Rev. David Wirt gives his first sermon. He serves the church through 1860.
1860
May 16: The Ladies Mite Society is organized to “aid in supplying the temporal needs of the parish.”
1862
July 25: The legal incorporation of the “Articles of Association of the First Congregational Church of Allegan” is signed by J.B. Bailey, N.B. West, George Oliver Sr., J.H. Mayhew, E. D. Follett, L. F. Waldo, A. Waldo, A. Oliver and Carlos Baker. Trustees are N. B. West, J. H. Mayhew, and Leonard Bailey.
1864
A lot on Cutler Street is donated to the church by Henry H. Booth. A plain edifice is erected for $2,700 on a lot donated after the house previously existing on the lot is moved to 313 Pine Street where it is divided in half. The house still stands today.
According to Armstrong and Pahl in River and Lake, A Sesquicentennial History of Allegan County (204), the Civil War had a strong impact on churches – and it can be inferred that this would be true of the Congregational Church. “Church services and attendance increased greatly during the war years. Many diaries of the period show very little other social activity.” This was due, no doubt, both to the absence of men and to the feeling that such social activities “were not considered proper under the circumstances. Bazaars were held to raise money for charitable purposes and groups of women were encouraged to hold bees for the rolling of bandages, knitting of socks, scarves, and mittens and … other items useful to the troops.” Two Civil War Generals worshiped in the First Congregational Church – General Benjamin Pritchard and General Elisha Mix.
1865
January 1: The church building is dedicated.
April 14: Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, is shot; he dies the next morning. Communities and churches all across the country mourn his death. According to newspaper accounts, the first public service of the new church building is a community memorial for Abraham Lincoln.
1875
The parsonage is built across the street from the church for $2,000.
May 16: The Women’s Missionary Society is organized with 13 members to “contribute to Congregational benevolent societies.”
1877
Under the ministry of John Sailor, services are held at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sabbath School is held after the morning service; prayer meetings are held on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
1882
The church is rebuilt for $4,100.
November 16: The church is rededicated.
1884
A “young people’s prayer meeting” is established.
March 12: Fire destroys much of Allegan’s business district; praise God, the church is safe.
1886
The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor (YPSCE) was organized to replace the prayer meeting established two years before. In two years, the Society grew from 12 to 42 members. Reports showed they were “always ready to help in the every good work.”
1889
The clerk records names of church absentees, who are then approached by a committee asking that they agree to attend regularly or have their names dropped from the roll.
1897
The chapel is enlarged for $1,300 after membership grows to 211. An All-time record Sunday School attendance of 218 is recorded on March 22nd.
1920
Because of WWI fuel shortages, the Presbyterians close their church and unite with the Congregational Church to form the First Federated Church of Allegan. At the first annual members meeting, with 250 present, only three votes are cast against continuing the Federation. However, at the end of the year, the Presbyterians return to their own sanctuary.
1937
At the annual meeting, the church's name is changed from First Federated Church back to First Congregational Church.
1965
October 3: The congregation votes to join the United Church of Christ denomination.
1973
October 8: The congregation votes to withdraw from the United Church of Christ and become a member of the National Association of Congregational Churches.
2008
June 8: During the morning worship service, the church commemorates its 150th Anniversary. After the service an open house is held where members dress in vintage clothing from the 1800's. Under the leadership of the women's fellowship and the diaconate church tours are given along with an ice cream social. There is also the signing of the sesquicentennial quilt which was made by members of the congregation from materials provided by the women's fellowship.