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Pilgrim United Methodist Church
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We're Pilgrims On a Journey, Won't You Come Along?
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Bengal Church
The Bengal "Class" was organized by Rev. William Kennard, circuit preacher from the Pine Lake Mission, Michigan Conference on October 1, 1855. The first members were Emmons and Sarah Blakeslee, Abraham and Lydia Teneyck, and Betsy Lyon. During the next winter a revival was held and about thirty members were added. In the summer of 1856 a log church was built on section 26, Bengal Twp. about ½ mile West of Parks and Grove Roads. At one time, school was held in this log church. In 1877 the church known as Bengal Church was built at the corner of Parks and Grove Roads. This new frame church edifice (36x50) was erected at a cost of about $2,800 and included a Vestibule and a tower with spire that rose 96 foot high. Four young men from this church were called to the ministry; Robert R. Risley in 1892, Rank A. Risley in 1902, Arthur L. Spafford, Jr. in 1946, and Myron K. Williams, in 1953. The church building has been torn down and a home now stands on that corner.
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Bingham Church
The West Bingham "Class" was organized in September 1867 by Rev. William Palmer of the Bengal Circuit, with five members: D.C. Norris, Henry Larkens, George Yallup, Mary Yallup, and Mary Larkens. The class leader was Henry Larkens. The Peck Schoolhouse, in district no. 3 was used as the place of worship. Later members were C.A. Fenner, Maynette Sherman, Susan Emmons, William Norris, Mrs. C.A. Norris, Reuben Powers, M.D. Orms, Mary Orms, and Julia Norris. They met for several years in school houses of the area. In 1889 the brick church at the corner of County Farm and Taft Roads was built during the pastorate of Rev. J.W. Meyers and dedicated by Bishop Jonathan Weaver. The brick building still stands on the corner but has been remodeled and now serves as a home for a family. The South Bingham Cemetery lies immediately to the East of the old church building.
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Price United Methodist Church
(Pilgrim United Methodist Church Outreach Center)
In the early spring of 1888, Ezra Lattimer thought there should be some kind of church service or at least a Sunday school in the Price area. He received permission to use the schoolhouse. A Sunday school was organized and that was the beginning of Price Church. The schoolhouse was becoming rather small as the congregation increased and a building committee was formed composed of L.F. Green, Marshall Hand, Ezra Lattimer, R.C. Green and Wm. Doty. Mrs. Eliza Price and family gave a half-acre of ground on the corner in the spring of 1896. As a start some horse sheds were built since there were no automobiles at that time. On June 30th the cornerstone was laid and on September 19, 1898, the church was dedicated. During Rev. Strong’s stay, a number of church people moved away and World War I was in progress. It was discouraging to carry on so the church was closed. In the early part of 1927 Price was re-opened. In 1957, Mr. William Scharr, Jr. came to preach. He had just left for Annual Conference when lightening struck the church early in the morning of June 13, 1958. The church was burned to the ground. That evening the church members met with the district superintendent and it was decided to rebuild the church. A committee was chosen with William Ashley as chairman. Included on the committee were William Frayer, Roy Ormsby, Gayla Fricke, Jean Crowley, Irene Fricke, Russell Ormsby, Justin Eaton and Jean Ormsby. A ground-breaking ceremony was held August 10, 1958, the cornerstone was laid September 7, 1958, and the new building was dedicated in July 1960. In June 2004, Price United Methodist Church merged with Pilgrim United Methodist Church and no longer meet at the corner of Krepps and Price Roads. In the fall of 2004, the Faith Fellowship was formed, and they still meet in the Price Church building now known as the Pilgrim United Methodist Church Outreach Center and are.
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Church Mergers
When Bengal and Bingham churches were organized, they were United Brethren Churches. In 1889 the General Conference split over some issues. Some kept the old constitution and name. Bengal and Bingham went to the new constitution and became United Brethren in Christ. In 1946 the Evangelical Church General Conference and United Brethren in Christ General Conference met in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and merged becoming the Evangelical United Brethren Church. On January 1, 1968 Bengal and Bingham Churches merged and chose the name Pilgrim. For about six months they were the Pilgrim Evangelical United Brethren Church, then the General Conferences merged and they became the Pilgrim United Methodist Church. In 2004, another merge took place...this one between Price United Methodist Church and Pilgrim United Methodist Church known today as Pilgrim United Methodist Church, one body in Christ.
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Pilgrim United Methodist Church
In March of 1972 the first $1,500 was given to build a new church and in April of 1972 a study committee was formed to study the feasibility of a new church building. In January 1973 a Task force was organized and in October of that year a presentation was made to the congregation of the new church plan. In 1974 two votes were taken for building a new church at the corner of Parks and DeWitt Roads. Our target financing was $200,000 in pledges with $100,000 in cash and commitments. The church vote was 60 yes and 7 no. The Administrative Board vote was 1 yes and 2 no. A building committee was voted on and Warren Coffman, David Yallup, Pastor Brian Sheen, Marilyn Knight, Ray Warner, Eugene Lamb, Marceda Harper, Barbara Sturgis, Robert Peck, Roger Fitzpatrick, Howard Williams, Donald Davis, Lyle Fenner, Lloyd Love, Betty Lamb, Ruby Blakeslee, Bonnie Heibeck and Levi Blakeslee were elected. Committee heads were: Pastor Sheen - Worship, Howard Williams - Education, Ruby Blakeslee - Fellowship, Roger Fitzpatrick - Finance, Candice Pierson - Office; Donald Davis - Public Relations, and Lyle Fenner - Special Areas. A final vote was taken on May 2, 1975 with 80 persons present. The outcome was 70 yes and 10 no. Ground breaking was held on May 11, 1975 with about 240 people witnessing the event. The first work on the new church was done in August 1975. The congregation moved into the new building in September of 1976 and consecration was held in October 1976. Mr. Willard Searles, a member of the church, was the general contractor for our building project. Estimated cost for the project was $720,000, but with much of the work done by members of the congregation, the actual cost was $320,000. A mortgage was taken out for 10 years on $190,000 in 1976. The mortgage for the new church was burned in May 1983. In June 2004 the Price United Methodist Church and Pilgrim United Methodist Church voted to merge and on Sunday, August 1, 2004 the two churches worshipped together as one church at the corner of Parks and DeWitt Roads for the first time. The Price Building is now known as the Pilgrim United Methodist Church Outreach Center and is still used on Sundays for worship by Faith Fellowship. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!
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