(From the 75^th Anniversary Booklet – 1896-1971)

In April, 1766, Methodists in America held their first General Conference at Baltimore, Maryland. As the people moved westward the Methodist Circuit Rider crossed the Alleghanies to establish churches in Pittsburgh and Ohio territories.

In 1804, Methodism came to Michigan through the travels of Rev. Daniel Freeman, who preached at Detroit.

In September, 1835, the Grand River Mission was organized and Rev. Osband Monnett was appointed circuit preacher to Grand Rapids.

In February, 1892, on a cold wintry night some members of the Ames Church near Delaware and Division met with Rev. Elisha Bacon to form the Dickinson Avenue M. E. Church.

An original class meeting over a store  at the crossroads of Burton and Division was the beginning  In January, 1895, a committee from the hill met with the Dickinson Avenue Church Trustees to consider a merger and the building of a new church at the corner of Griggs and Buchanan Streets. Mrs. Emily Feakins gave three lots at this location and the new church erected at a cost of $1,229.24 was called the Feakin Memorial M. E. Church. Rev. O. A. Wightman was the pastor of the Congregation numbering 27 charter members. Begun in August, 1895, the church building was ready for services March 15, 1896. many furnishings for the thriving congregation of 45 members were provided by individuals. The pulpit was made by the pastor. Succeeding the able leader, Rev. O. A. Wightman, were six pastors in as many years: G. W. Sherman, Ralph Newman, Joseph Peschmann, George Allen and J. I. Buell. The records report 79 members and a pastor’s salary of $500.00 annually.

After six struggling years under six one-year pastorates the Congregation took on new life and growth under Rev. Russell Bready’s four years as pastor (1901-1905) The church grew in all areas: membership, Sunday School and building improvements. The youngest pastor to serve, and a bachelor besides, Mr. Bready was married on Thanksgiving Day, 1902, to Mae Richards, a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal, with the entire congregation attending the wedding.

At the end of Rev. Bready’s pastorate the congregation, now numbering 175, was seriously considering larger quarters. In 1905 lots were purchased at the corner of Burton and Horton for $2,000.00. During the brief pastorates of Rev. Odlum and Rev. Toner progress towards relocation was slow but with the coming of Rev. E. A. Carmen who served 1907-1910, funds were raised and the present church was erected and dedicated on May 29, 1910 at an approximate cost of $25,000.00. It is interesting to note that a cement mixing machine using gravel and sand from the site provided the concrete blocks for the building, which were sold for 25 cents a piece. Bishop McIntyre of Chicago presided at consecration services.

Other pastors in the first years at the new location were Harry Lyon, Herbert Potter and Gary Fleming. During Rev. Fleming’s four years of leadership the debt was reduced considerably and a parsonage located at 1940 Horton was purchased. Pastors J. F. Bowerman and D. Stanley Coors ably guided the growing congregation in the early 1920’s. The first pipe organ was installed during Mr. Coors pastorate. He is the only pastor assigned to this congregation to receive the distinction of becoming a Bishop.

After a one year term by Rev. C. J. Kruse another popular pastor to serve this congregation was Harry D. Henry. He later served as a college president.

Pastors Leroy Dewey, William Perdew, L. Winston Stone and Leo B. Niles in succession served the church from 1934 to 1945. Mr. Dewey and Mr. Stone served as District Superintendents. Mr. Perdew became the able administrator of Bronson Hospital for a number of years.

From June, 1945 to 1957, for 12 years William Ray Prescott served as pastor at which time the Congregation grew to a membership of 1200. During his pastorate the educational unit was built providing a beautiful Chapel, lounge, a fellowship hall, and much needed class room space for a large Sunday Church School. He went on to serve as the Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Council of Churches.

During Emeral Prices’ pastorate five houses were purchased and removed making possible our spacious parking area. The church staff was enlarged to include a Pastoral Assistant, Mrs. Marion Allen and a Minister of Visitation, Dr. Levi Goodwin.. In 1962 there was an exchange of pastors affecting this church. The retiring Superintendent of the Central District, Leon Manning, was assigned to Burton Heights and Mr. Price succeeded him as Superintendent of the Central District. Under Mr. Manning the church had its first associate pastor in the person of Rev. Ronald Wise. The Leon Manning’s were the first to live in the newly purchased parsonage at 324 Griswold.

From 1965 to 1970 under Neil Bintz’s leadership the long considered plan to erect a new sanctuary was resolved. Instead, some $75,000 was expended to provide a new pipe organ and a refurbished Chancel and Sanctuary. Associate pastors who served during this period were Don Eddy and Clark Phillips.

In June, 1970, Rev. Verner Kilgren succeeded Dr. Neil Bintz as pastor. The merger of the former E. U. B. Church and the Methodist into the United Methodist Church places four congregations in the same geographical area. As a result G. O. B. O. has been formed, an effort to unite the Congregations of Griggs, Olivet, Burton Heights and Oakdale into a United Ministry to the surrounding community.

Now as the church celebrates it’s 75 years of Christian witnessing the Congregation faces the ever increasing challenges of a changing urban society. It seeks to honor the past by finding new ways to witness to the love of Christ and to make His mission relevant.

NOTE:  In 1998 a study was made regarding the possible merger of Burton Heights United Methodist Church and Oakdale Methodist.  Later, Olivet UEB was included in this discussion.  Due to few members still in the area, the cost of upkeep of the church and although efforts were made, the inability to integrate the African-Americans and Hispanic that are the major residence of the area, sometime after the publishing of the study in February, 1999, the Burton Heights Methodist Church discontinued.  Their request to the Methodist Conference and District was that the church be used to benefit the neighborhood.  The church is now an Hispanic Methodist Church (2002).

The following is a listing of those members who , in 1992, had membership in the church for 50 years or were 80 years old.