First United Methodist Church (Highland Park, Michigan)

First United Methodist Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
First United Methodist Church, seen from across Woodward
Location	16300 Woodward Avenue Highland Park, Michigan
Coordinates
Built	1916
Architect	William E. N. Hunter
Architectural style	Late Gothic Revival, Other
MPS	Religious Structures of Woodward Ave. TR
NRHP Reference #	82002918
Added to NRHP	August 3, 1982

The Soul Harvest Ministries is located at 16300 Woodward Avenue in Highland Park, Michigan. It was built in 1916 as the First United Methodist Church and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

History

In 1868, a frame chapel for interdenominational services was built behind where the First United Methodist Church currently stands. Membership in this church declined in the 1880s, and the structure became an Episcopal chapel in 1885. In 1892, the chapel was sold to the Methodists for $1 (and assumption of the church debt).

The Methodist congregation received financial support from Michigan Senator Thomas Palmer and a retired Great Lakes sea captain, Thomas Stevens. This support allowed then to construct the present Gothic structure, which was built from 1916 to 1917. In 1956, the original frame chapel behind the present church was demolished, and a contemporary educational building was constructed.

Soul Harvest Ministries has occupied the building since 1995.

Architecture

The church is an Arts and Crafts influenced, Gothic-style structure, constructed from red brick and trimmed with limestone. The Woodward Avenue facade has gables and with banks of leaded windows, unified by projecting brick piers with limestone detailing. A square, flat-roofed tower with a louvered belfry graces the corner of the building. The main entrance is sheltered by a broad arch in the base of the tower. Throughout the interior of the church are tiled floors, Arts and Crafts style oak woodwork, and tapestry brick wainscoting inset with Pewabic tiles.