VOICE OF GRACE

A Brief History of Southfield Reformed Presbyterian Church

In 1834, three years before Michigan gained its statehood, the Southfield Reformed Presbyterian Church was organized as a congregation of the Western Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. The first members were Scots-Irish settlers who had migrated from New York State with a firm conviction of the gospel of God and of the Mediatorial Kingship of Jesus Christ. These settlers cleared the dense Michigan forest and eked out a living off the land and helped to establish what would one day become the City of Southfield just northwest of Detroit. In the early days, members were organized into “societies” or local Bible studies to promote the study of God’s word and to maintain fellowship and community through the week, and the body gathered for public worship when itinerant preachers were available.

David Stewart and Alexander McClung were elected as the first ruling elders. Pastor James Neill became the first pastor in 1842 and served in that capacity until 1851. The Lord has raised up a total of seventeen men to serve as pastor of the congregation, and they are listed with their years of service below.

In 1838, a building in which to worship was constructed at the current site. In 1852, David Stewart, the “founding father” of the congregation died and was first person buried in the cemetery. In 1861, with the need for a larger and more permanent worship facility, Joseph Torrens constructed the current church building but died shortly afterward, without ever being able to worship in the building. A basement was dug and the building was moved back from Evergreen Road onto the basement in the 1950s, and the congregation continues to worship in this historic structure today. Additionally, in the 1940s, a parsonage was built north of the cemetery.

Here’s a picture of the church before Evergreen Rd. was paved.

Here’s a picture after the church was moved back from the road onto it’s new basement in anticipation of Evergreen Rd. being widened and paved.

Here’s a picture taken in 2002 before our new front entrance was added. It shows the parsonage to the north.

Church membership declined through much of the twentieth century, and some in the community, and perhaps even in the church itself, seemed to view the Southfield Reformed Presbyterian Church as a quaint and historic relic of religion that had become outdated with its simple gospel message of God’s sovereign grace and simple worship with a cappella Psalm singing. Written records indicate the expectation that the church would fade into the history books along with rural Southfield as the city blossomed into a commercial force in the mid-twentieth century. Today, Southfield is a robust city and the Lord has sustained His church which continues to worship on Evergreen Road just off of Interstate 696, one of Michigan’s busiest highways. King Jesus continues to reign and His church has not become outdated – it is more needed than ever before. God has granted growth to this historic congregation, especially under the leadership of Pastor Ray Joseph and Pastor Ian Wise over the last twenty-five years.

As a congregation, we are excited to see what new chapters the Lord will add as His gospel is proclaimed from this place. The congregation was the first church of any kind in Southfield, and we expect that since God placed us here as His first witnesses that He would have us continue to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in Southfield and beyond until He finishes His work on earth. So, come, worship with us, and join us in this great calling.

Two fascinating histories of the congregation exist. Mary Thompson, granddaughter of founding elder David Stewart, wrote a history in 1915 as part of a campaign to raise support for the care of the cemetery. A second history was written in 1973 by then-Pastor John O. Edgar as part of the congregation’s 140^th anniversary celebration. These histories are currently being reproduced on a blog by our pastor and will be included in this site when they are completed.