On October 30, 1831, six years before
Michigan was admitted as a state and South Lyon was known as "The Corners",
fifteen families met in the home of Robert Purdy to organize a Presbyterian
Society. Under the leadership of Rev. E. Prince of Plymouth Michigan,
the church was organized. Services were temporarily held in the cabin
of Mrs. Thomas Dunlap just east of South Lyon.
A large schoolhouse was built on this farm in 1833. It
also served as a place of worship for the Presbyterians and the Methodists
on alternate Sundays. In 1859, the congregation built a frame church
on what is now the corner of Ten Mile and Martindale roads. This
building was sold to the Catholic Church in 1882 and relocated to the Father
Foley farm (just east of Milford Road) when the Catholics built a church in
South Lyon.
In 1882 the first brick church was built at
the present location. The Romanesque Revival church consists
of a main sanctuary and bell tower, built by William Greig in 1883 at a cost
of $5,000. The two-story chapel and fellowship hall were constructed in 1899.
The bell, dated 1885, and the stained glass window in the main facade added
in 1899, were donated by the Young People's Christian Association, later
known as the Christian Endeavor Society. In 1950 the basement and
heating plant were enlarged and stairways and restrooms added. In 1966
the Christian Education unit was added.
In 1995, the church was registered
as an historical site, and our
historical marker was put in place. Since then we have done
restoration work on our sanctuary and created an addition on the north side,
which includes an elevator and parlor. In 2005 we were blessed to receive
the generous gift of a new Allen Renaissance Quantum Q325 digital organ.
The Presbyterian
influence has been an important part of the community for over 175 years.
Working together in God's service with other Christian churches, a solid
foundation has been established in South Lyon, Michigan.