How it all started...
One hundred years ago (counting from the year 1983, the Centennial of KFM) Chester A. Arthur was president, coffee sold for .15 cents a pound, and Kalamazoo was a growing city of 12,000 population. In 1883 a tent service was held in the community which proved to be the pivotal event in the establishment of a Free Methodist Church.
This tent service was the inspiration of “Pentecost bands” which came to the city from Decatur, Michigan. Pentecost bands were the “Jesus people” of the denomination in the late 19th Century and proved to be a force in the organization of many Free Methodist Churches. They were relatively unorganized groups, however, and as such sometimes created headaches for denomination leaders in addition to new congregations.
The nucleus of a new church left in the city at the conclusion of the tent meeting needed a pastor. Shortly after the tent was folded Rev. Marion Baldwin and his wife, also from Decatur, came to organize the first “class”. There were five charter members: Sister Halley, Brother Tenny, Brother and Sister Johnson. (Dora Pillars’ parents) and the pastor’s wife. Twelve members were admitted in the next year. Among these were the Mannings (parents of Mary Balls, who died April 4th of this year on her 101st birthday) and Andrew and Mary Crandall, great-grandparents of Robert Crandall, former denominational executive and now pastor of the Salem, Oregon, Free Methodist Church.
The young church first met on the second floor of the Pratt Building, at the corner of Portage St. and Michigan Ave. During this period Rev. Baldwin supported his family by hiring out as a farm laborer. The congregation moved briefly to an unidentified building “just west of the Kalamazoo National Bank Building”, then in 1884 or ’85 moved to the Episcopalian Chapel, in the 900 block of Jackson St.
In 1888, “the members rallied around Rev. Bradfield, and putting on courage the small society built the first Free Methodist Church,” paying $275.00 for the lot. This building was located on what is now E. Walnut St, “between the Grand Rapids and Lake Shore Railroads.” The singing was no doubt lusty enough to drown out chugs and whistles. This original building was 26 ft. by 40 ft. with a classroom added later. A photograph of this building exists, showing the structure being moved from the original site to the Jasper St. address.
Indebtedness was paid on this first building in 1903 and immediately the congregation put into motion dreams of expansion. These were spurred by the arrival in 1904 of Rev. Frank Baker. On May 23, 1907, the trustees (E. J. Manning, Cornelius Boers, and Mary Kakabaker) purchased the property at the corner of Jasper and Jane streets from Edward and Sarah Lane. Payment was in cash.
The building on East Walnut St. was moved to the new site, and the Walnut St. property sold to the Darling Coal Co. A new sanctuary was constructed to the north of the older sanctuary, which became the “annex”, serving as overflow and Sunday School space. The Semi-Centennial booklet, prepared in 1934, recorded the construction of the new church in this way:
“Old father Manning worked shoulder to shoulder with the new convert, John Newland. Nor can we forget the plastering job of John TenBrink and the foundation work participated in by Charles Mohney…”
The church at the corner of Jasper and Jane prospered through depression and war. Times were not always easy – theological differences prompted a few members to withdraw from the society in 1934 – but our spiritual fathers and mothers preserved and the church grew.
This tent service was the inspiration of “Pentecost bands” which came to the city from Decatur, Michigan. Pentecost bands were the “Jesus people” of the denomination in the late 19th Century and proved to be a force in the organization of many Free Methodist Churches. They were relatively unorganized groups, however, and as such sometimes created headaches for denomination leaders in addition to new congregations.
The nucleus of a new church left in the city at the conclusion of the tent meeting needed a pastor. Shortly after the tent was folded Rev. Marion Baldwin and his wife, also from Decatur, came to organize the first “class”. There were five charter members: Sister Halley, Brother Tenny, Brother and Sister Johnson. (Dora Pillars’ parents) and the pastor’s wife. Twelve members were admitted in the next year. Among these were the Mannings (parents of Mary Balls, who died April 4th of this year on her 101st birthday) and Andrew and Mary Crandall, great-grandparents of Robert Crandall, former denominational executive and now pastor of the Salem, Oregon, Free Methodist Church.
The young church first met on the second floor of the Pratt Building, at the corner of Portage St. and Michigan Ave. During this period Rev. Baldwin supported his family by hiring out as a farm laborer. The congregation moved briefly to an unidentified building “just west of the Kalamazoo National Bank Building”, then in 1884 or ’85 moved to the Episcopalian Chapel, in the 900 block of Jackson St.
In 1888, “the members rallied around Rev. Bradfield, and putting on courage the small society built the first Free Methodist Church,” paying $275.00 for the lot. This building was located on what is now E. Walnut St, “between the Grand Rapids and Lake Shore Railroads.” The singing was no doubt lusty enough to drown out chugs and whistles. This original building was 26 ft. by 40 ft. with a classroom added later. A photograph of this building exists, showing the structure being moved from the original site to the Jasper St. address.
Indebtedness was paid on this first building in 1903 and immediately the congregation put into motion dreams of expansion. These were spurred by the arrival in 1904 of Rev. Frank Baker. On May 23, 1907, the trustees (E. J. Manning, Cornelius Boers, and Mary Kakabaker) purchased the property at the corner of Jasper and Jane streets from Edward and Sarah Lane. Payment was in cash.
The building on East Walnut St. was moved to the new site, and the Walnut St. property sold to the Darling Coal Co. A new sanctuary was constructed to the north of the older sanctuary, which became the “annex”, serving as overflow and Sunday School space. The Semi-Centennial booklet, prepared in 1934, recorded the construction of the new church in this way:
“Old father Manning worked shoulder to shoulder with the new convert, John Newland. Nor can we forget the plastering job of John TenBrink and the foundation work participated in by Charles Mohney…”
The church at the corner of Jasper and Jane prospered through depression and war. Times were not always easy – theological differences prompted a few members to withdraw from the society in 1934 – but our spiritual fathers and mothers preserved and the church grew.
Expanding the vision...
By the early 1950’s it was becoming clear that if the church was to continue to grow and serve its community a new facility was necessary. Rev. R. C. Morrel felt this need and searched diligently for property suited to the needs of the congregation. In 1955 land was purchased on Maple St., and less than two years later construction on the new church began.
In 1956 a new pastor was appointed to Kalamazoo. Rev. Henry Steel provided youthful, dynamic leadership necessary for hurdling obstacles always present in such a major undertaking. God knew our needs and provided.
The property at the Jasper St. address was sold to the Upjohn Co. for $72,000. The new church was completed in 1957 for the remarkably low cost of $155,000, including preparation of the site and relocation expenses.
And there was much site preparation necessary. The land upon which the present church rests was low and had to be extensively filled. An underground stream was channeled through tiles around the west and south sides of the foundation. And what a foundation! Under the church are reinforced concrete slabs ten feet wide.
From the 1950's to the 1970's, Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church grew. I planted a church in Portage, Michigan (Portage Free Methodist Church, renamed "Renovation Church" in 2019).
In 1984, KFM Added on to the building on Maple Street with what is called the "Centennial Center", a building that included a gym, kitchen, cafe, and new offices.
In 1956 a new pastor was appointed to Kalamazoo. Rev. Henry Steel provided youthful, dynamic leadership necessary for hurdling obstacles always present in such a major undertaking. God knew our needs and provided.
The property at the Jasper St. address was sold to the Upjohn Co. for $72,000. The new church was completed in 1957 for the remarkably low cost of $155,000, including preparation of the site and relocation expenses.
And there was much site preparation necessary. The land upon which the present church rests was low and had to be extensively filled. An underground stream was channeled through tiles around the west and south sides of the foundation. And what a foundation! Under the church are reinforced concrete slabs ten feet wide.
From the 1950's to the 1970's, Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church grew. I planted a church in Portage, Michigan (Portage Free Methodist Church, renamed "Renovation Church" in 2019).
In 1984, KFM Added on to the building on Maple Street with what is called the "Centennial Center", a building that included a gym, kitchen, cafe, and new offices.
Where we are headed...
During from the 1990's to 2018, KFM saw a drop in attendance and a plateauing of the church. Something was needed to breath life back into KFM. The Holy Spirit lead the way and provided for a "Recalibration" of the church and brought many new people not just to KFM, but to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.
