The First Congregational Church of New Baltimore, U.C.C. was organized in 1856 as a missionary effort by the Eastern Association of the Michigan Division of the American Congregational Union. It was founded at the request of several residents of the town and the cooperative efforts of a few of our sister churches throughout the area.
The first meeting took place on April 29, 1856 at the Union School House in the village of Ashley. Ministers and delegates from Romeo, St. Clair, Detroit, Almont, and Chesterfield were present, along with local citizens Lancius Haskins, Maria Haskins, Elizabeth D. Terry, Laura A. Grover, Joshua Perry, Elmira Haskins, and L. Terry. The Rev. Elkannah Whitney was the minister present at the founding of the church.
There are no records for the period between January, 1859 and June, 1861. It was, however, a busy period of the church, as land on which the church was built was donated by Alfred and Euphemia Ashley, for whom the town was originally named. The church structure was built and finally dedicated on Wednesday, June 20, 1861. Churches in Bruce, Detroit, Mt. Clemens, Memphis, Lexington, and Chelsea were represented at the ceremony.
The church edifice is currently the oldest church building in constant use by one denomination in the area. The building has undergone several "face lifts" over the years and has survived two fires. Today, the Board of Trustees keeps a watchful eye on the condition of the church, mindful of the heritage that has been handed down through several generations.
History of Congregationalism
Congregationalism can trace its roots back to England in the sixteen century, during the time of the Great Reformation. Many groups broke away from the Catholic Church, including the Church of England, founded by Henry VIII. As the Church of England evolved, several groups splintered off, each for various reasons. One group, the Separatists, wanted to leave the church and worship as they saw fit, thinking that the Church of England was beyond reform. These Separatists, having tried living in the Netherlands, finally decided to go the the New World and try their hand at living in the colonies. Having a charter for living in the recently established colony of Virginia, they set sail in 1620. Slightly off course, they landed in Massachusetts. Deciding to stay, they established the Plymouth Colony. Being on a religious pilgrimage, they became known as Pilgrims. They were eventually joined by the Puritans, who became Separatists themselves when their efforts at "purifying" the Church of England failed.
Congregationalists were known for their democratic methods of running both the church and the community. The congregation was to be the highest authority in governance, although it was hardly apparent during the rule of some of the early church fathers. This is the church that brought the Salem witch trials. Also, however, it brought us Thanksgiving. Eventually, it led to more democratically run churches and communities. The town meeting, the foundation of our early experience with democratic government, sprang from the congregational form of rule in the early church.
Eventually, mergers would come to construct what we know today as the United Church of Christ. The Congregational and Christian Churches united, as did the Evangelical and Reformed Churches. In 1957, in a meeting in Cleveland, Ohio, the Congregational and Christian Churches merged with the Evangelical and Reformed, to form the United Church of Christ. Still, the hallmark of the UCC is the old Congregational spirit of total autonomy of each congregation. Each church is in a covenantal relationship with the others and with the state and local associations, but each is a governmental unit unto itself.
As time passes, we find that the UCC and several other churches have held meetings to discuss the continuing growth of the United Church. For decades, in Michigan, the Christian church, Disciples of Christ, has worked closely in union with the UCC in many areas, sharing not only annual meetings on a biannual basis, but also staff at the state level.