In an effort to provide ministers to settlers moving west, the Presbyterian and the Congregational church joined in a Plan of Union (1801). It was from an initial visit of a Reverend John D. Pierce, a missionary of the American Home Missionary Society in July of 1831, that eventually a Presbyterian Church of thirty-eight members was organized in Marshall by Reverend Elias Child of Albion on June 26, 1841. Elder Jabez Sill Fitch built our first church in 1843 on Michigan Avenue (main street downtown). The congregation grew and it was decided a larger building was needed. The cornerstone of our current church was laid on July 7, 1872. The formal dedication was held on November 9, 1873.

 

The first minister of the new First Presbyterian Church of Marshall was the Reverend Dr. John Payne Cleaveland, a relative of the former President Grover Cleaveland, who first came to Marshall from the pastorate of First Presbyterian Church in Detroit to be the founding President of the Marshall Academy. His first church was the Tabernacle in Salem, Massachusetts. He was a leader of the Western Presbyterian synods from 1811-1843. Since then, we have had approximately thirty-five ministers serve our church.

 

In 1837 the General Assemble voided the Plan of Union. Half of the Presbyterians accepted a more liberal, abolitionist policy. Our church was in this category. Not only did we take a more liberal stand, we took action in 1847 leading citizens of Marshall in defending the Adam Crosswhite family, former slaves residing in Marshall, from being captured by slave hunters. When reading the account of the case, the names listed read like our church roster at the time.

 

The bell that rings in our tower today weighs 1600 pounds and was shipped to Marshall by rail from Meneely’s Foundry, West Troy, NY in 1848. Our bell has called Presbyterians to worship, celebrated baptisms, weddings, significant church events and marked major historical occurrences for 152 years.

 

In 1903, a great wind storm so severely damaged the steeple that it was necessary to remove it. All of the stained-glass windows were replaced in 1945. The ground floor was extensively remodeled in 1956. The sanctuary was remodeled in 1958. The educational wing was completed in 1978. Our current wonderful pipe organ was rebuilt and installed in 1991.

 

In 1992 the Presbyterian Center for Children (PCFC) began as our mission to serve the community by offering care for infants and children. For 31 years we continued this mission, providing developmentally appropriate curriculum and other activities in a loving, Christian environment and operating continually through a major worldwide pandemic, before closing in 2023.  

 

First Presbyterian Church of Marshall – 184 years.