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.
Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.
