The Cross Village Presbyterian Church, built in 1890, was destroyed by fire in 1918. Reverend John Redpath, an 80-year-old missionary, led the rebuilding effort, raising funds and even doing manual labor. The church reopened in 1921. After his death in 1926, it was renamed Redpath Memorial Presbyterian Church in his honor.

Over the years, the lumbering people moved away and the population in Cross Village dwindled. This small picturesque stone church stood empty. At one point, it was slated to be a retail store. Several attempts to reopen it and have services failed, and it became a community eyesore from neglect and vandalism. Finally, in 1965, two summer resident couples, the Archers and the Mungers, obtained permission to hold summer services. Attendance grew, and by 1967, services were held weekly from Memorial Day to Labor Day and over time the little stone church was renovated and restored to its former glory.  The church continues to thrive, supported by summer residents and locals. It operates informally, and gives back to the community through college scholarships.

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A charming old fieldstone church is located along M-32, nestled between East Jordan and US-131. Constructed in 1890 by Bohemian immigrants, it was dedicated to Saint John Nepomucene, the patron saint of Czechoslovakia. Bohemia is a significant region in Czechoslovakia, and many of the early settlers in this northern Michigan area hailed from Prague. They named their new home Praga or Praha, reflecting the dual names of the city.

After establishing their homesteads, numerous farmers received land grants from the federal government. A post office was set up in 1876, adopting the name Praha. However, the town’s population remained small, leading to the post office’s closure just a few years later.

Despite the post office shutting down and the town not evolving into a bustling community, the settlers persevered and built their church in 1890. In 1926, the church’s exterior was adorned with fieldstone, likely sourced from local farmers who gathered stones from their fields to shield the building from Michigan’s harsh weather. Today, the church remains a part of the Catholic Dioceses of Gaylord and is a stunning site for photography throughout the year.

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The beautiful an historic stone church of St. Joseph’s Shrine stands along US-12 in the Irish Hills next to Iron Lake. The church was constructed in 1854 by Irish pioneers. Next to the church are 14 stations of the cross that depict scenes of Jesus’ walk to Calvary.

It was created in 1932 by two Mexican artisans, Dionicio Rodriguez and Ralph Corona. They sculpted steps, archways and railings from wet cement to resemble stone and timber. The crucifixion scene is sculpted from Carrara marble. The footpath begins at a replica of Pontius Pilates’s palace then winds past balconied houses, through the judgment gate and ends at Christ’s tomb.

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