First Presbyterian Church of Blissfield
Encyclopedia
The First Presbyterian Church of Blissfield is an active church building located at 306 Franklin Street in the village of Blissfield
in Blissfield Township
in eastern Lenawee County
, Michigan
. It was designated as a Michigan State Historic Site
on June 11, 1965 and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places
on September 3, 1971. It was the second property in the county listed on the National Register after the Walker Tavern
.
The congregation in Blissfield, which was formally organized on February 29, 1829, is one of the oldest Presbyterian
congregations in the state. The church originally held services in the home of Hervey Bliss, one of the village founders, and later in a schoolhouse. The current Greek Revival
church was constructed in 1849 at a cost of $2,800 under the ministry of Reverend John Monteith, who was a graduate from the Princeton Theological Seminary
. Monteith, along with Gabriel Richard
, co-founded what would later become the University of Michigan
. Monteith served as the university's unofficial first president from 1817–1821 after having moved to the Michigan Territory
in 1816. He would later move to Blissfield and preach from 1845–1855. During that time, he headed the funding for the construction of the church. The building is the fifth oldest operating Presbyterian church in the state of Michigan and the oldest church in Blissfield.
In 1883, the building itself was moved slightly to its current position just north of U.S. Route 223
near the River Raisin
. In 1953, a large addition was added to the church, which greatly changed the appearance of the original church structure.
Blissfield, Michigan
Blissfield is a village in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,223 at the 2000 census. The village is located within Blissfield Township...
in Blissfield Township
Blissfield Township, Michigan
Blissfield Township is a civil township of Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 3,915...
in eastern Lenawee County
Lenawee County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 98,890 people, 35,930 households, and 26,049 families residing in the county. The population density was 132 people per square mile . There were 39,769 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was designated as a Michigan State Historic Site
Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is in charge of the listing of historic resources of local, state, and national interest in the U.S. state of Michigan, including buildings, lighthouses, bridges, historic districts, and many other properties deemed important to the history of Michigan...
on June 11, 1965 and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on September 3, 1971. It was the second property in the county listed on the National Register after the Walker Tavern
Walker Tavern
The Walker Tavern is a historic structure located at 11710 U.S. Route 12 in Cambridge Township in northwesternmost Lenawee County, Michigan. It was designated as a Michigan Historic Site on February 19, 1958 and was later the county's first property added to the National Register of Historic...
.
The congregation in Blissfield, which was formally organized on February 29, 1829, is one of the oldest Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
congregations in the state. The church originally held services in the home of Hervey Bliss, one of the village founders, and later in a schoolhouse. The current Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
church was constructed in 1849 at a cost of $2,800 under the ministry of Reverend John Monteith, who was a graduate from the Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. Monteith, along with Gabriel Richard
Gabriel Richard
Father Gabriel Richard was a French Roman Catholic priest who became a Delegate from Michigan Territory to the U.S. House of Representatives....
, co-founded what would later become the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Monteith served as the university's unofficial first president from 1817–1821 after having moved to the Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
in 1816. He would later move to Blissfield and preach from 1845–1855. During that time, he headed the funding for the construction of the church. The building is the fifth oldest operating Presbyterian church in the state of Michigan and the oldest church in Blissfield.
In 1883, the building itself was moved slightly to its current position just north of U.S. Route 223
U.S. Route 223
US Route 223 or US Highway 223 is a diagonal US Highway lying in the US states of Michigan and Ohio. The southern most section is completely concurrent with the US 23 freeway, including all of the Ohio segment. It connects US 23 in the south near Toledo, Ohio with US 127 and...
near the River Raisin
River Raisin
The River Raisin is a river in southeastern Michigan, United States that flows through glacial sediments into Lake Erie. The area today is an agricultural and industrial center of Michigan. The river flows for almost , draining an area of in the Michigan counties of Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw,...
. In 1953, a large addition was added to the church, which greatly changed the appearance of the original church structure.