This year of 1934 marks the 65th anniversary of the organization of the Free Methodist church of this village. The first class was formed at Six Corners, north of town by Rev. C. H. Sage in the year 1869. In the fall of that same year, Rev. B. T. Roberts, who was the first Bishop of the Free Methodist Church, sent Rev. R. W. Cusick to apply the work with Rev. E. P. Hart as chairman.
On the 17th day of March, 1870, Rev. Hart came and held a quarterly meeting in the Congregational church at Coopersville, which was the beginning of a mighty revival that swept through the village and surrounding country. Rev. Hart, who was a giant for God, remained over two Sabbaths and formed a class of seventeen members. Rev. Cusick remained here as pastor for three years and the work prospered so that at the close of his pastorate there were 119 members on the circuit.
The present church building was built in the year 1870, the second year of Rev. Cusick's pastorate and was dedicated to the worship of God by the Rev. E. P. Hart. At this time the church owned the entire triangular block on which the building stands. As automobiles gradually came to take the place of horses and buggies which were employed to bring the people to church, the church sheds were torn down as they had served their purpose.
The church here was one of the first of the Free Methodist churches to be established in Michigan as the denomination was at that time only about ten years old. At this time the conference comprised the three states of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. This church and town had the honor of entertaining the general conference of the denomination held here about the year 1898. Four annual conferences have also been held in Coopersville, during the years of 1878, 1882, 1894 and 1902.
Following is a list of the names of those who have served as pastors of the church: Wm. R. Cusick, Ira Bell, H. V. Leonardson, T. Flenvellin, C. S. Gitchell, L. D. Russell, I. Mudge, C. D. Headly, G. H. Joslin, Wm Pitnger, H. D. F. Gaffin, Wm R. Cusick, N. Heald, A. G. Hartle, D. G. Briggs, F. A. Smith, Wm Caywood, N. Heald, George Laubach, S. W. Kidder, D. D. Hill, W. H. Switzer, C. F. DaFoe, C. M. DaFoe, W. T. Sumner, S. W. Ingalls, Mrs. A. J. Burgess, John Feighner, G. W. Cappy, G. H. Akins, Wm Erickson, Daniel Skanes, Duncan McPhee, R. G. Calkins and Jesse Lott, who is the present pastor.
F. E. Stowell and Peter DeVoist have also served as assistant pastors.