Churches

Religious Organizations. 

            “Religion is like the fashion. One man wears his doublet slashed, another laced, another plain; but every man hath a doublet. So every man hath his religion. We differ about trimming.”                John Selden.

             The religious settlers of Genesee County came here not to lose their influence in isolation, or to cover their light by worldly cares and pleasures, but to unite their strength in building up the kingdom of truth and righteousness. So those of like faith and education early formed themselves into societies, or church, and began planning for permanent influence. Hence, the fine church edifices which now adorn our community stand, and will stand, for spiritual excellences which are of more value to humanity than the highest towers which trade and commerce can erect or the most exquisite works which genius and art can produce.

            The religious affairs of the country have kept pace with the rapid increase of population and the development and growth of the community. The number of church societies has been materially increased and there has also been a marked increase in the efficiency of those which were formed and started in the early days. From the earliest settlement of Flint River and the surrounding villages, the churches have exerted a vast influence in every good movement that has concerned the welfare of the commonwealth.

The different villages throughout Genesee county were likewise vigilant in the early days in the establishing of houses of worship, and with great personal sacrifice they labored to lay the foundation of good society and good government.

            The town of Fenton was identified with the organization of religious societies as early as 1840, when the Baptist society was started with a few members, but it soon disbanded, part of the members going to Linden and others to Rose Center, Oakland county. A new society was organized in 1850 by the Rev. A. Lamb, of Parshalville, Livingston county, and in 1857 a hall was built for church purposes; the building is still standing. In later years a stone church was erected and since then the membership has increased in a proportionate growth with the town.

            The Methodist first completed and dedicated a church in Fenton in 1853, with the Rev. George Brown as pastor. The Presbyterians consecrated a church building in 1858, the society having been formed as early as 1840. St. Jude’s church, Episcopal, was organized in 1859 and the services were then held in a small frame building. A beautiful stone edifice has since been erected, which is one of the most attractive small churches in the county, constructed in the simple Gothic style.

            The Roman Catholics held services in Fenton in the early days in the homes of parishioners, but it was not until 1868 that a church and parsonage was erected. The first priest was Rev. Fr. Thomas Bafter.

            Previous to 1840 the Methodist organized a religious society in Flushing, holding their meetings for some time in a school house. Later a church building was erected and the society from its beginning has ever been in a prosperous condition. Among the early pastors who ministered to the needs of the community were several of the pastors who were prominently identified with the Methodist societies in Flint, including Rev. Mr. Bigelow, Mr. Barnes, Rev. Seth Reed, T. J. Joslin and others, In Flushing are now established churches of all denominations.

            In Pine Run, Clio, Richfield and Davison, the first societies to organize were also the Methodists, who established small churches in these villages during the period of 1858-65. For a number of years the societies had no ministers but were supplied with preachers belonging to a circuit, and at other times the services were read by the members. Later, however, small churches were built and supplied with resident clergymen. The Methodists also established the first church in Goodrich and Otisville, and in Mt. Morris built and dedicated a church as early as 1841.

            Among the most beautiful churches in Genesee county is St. Mary’s church in Mt. Morris, recently finished at a cost of about forty thousand dollars.

            Far back in the early thirties of the last century, when Michigan was yet a territory and the present county of Genesee but forest and swamp, a few Irish settlers formed the nucleus around which St. Mary’s congregation at Mt. Morris grew. Separated from an organized parish by many miles of difficult and fatiguing travel – for those wee the days of the stage coach and the ox-team – these few families received spiritual attention only at long intervals from missionary priests who were sent from Detroit by Bishops Rese and Lefevre. The aged people of Mt. Morris congregation have many holy reminiscences of the heroic Fathers Kendigen, Cullen and Kilroy, who in blinding snow and pouring rain, with knapsack strapped over their shoulders, traveled on horseback from Detroit to Sault Ste. Marie to administer the last sacrament to the dying and perchance to gather the scattering families of the community into a log house to assist at the sacrifice of the mass.

            The settlers becoming more numerous, a church was built at Flint. To this church the people for miles around were attached. In 1867 the number of families living near Mt. Morris had so increased as to warrant the errection of a church. The permission of Bishop Lefevre was obtained and a frame church built. This church was called St. Mary’s and was attached as a mission to the parish at Flint. In 1870 Bishop Lefeyre, recognizing the growth of the mission, decided to elevate it to the dignity of an independent parish. This he did in the fall of 1870 by appointing the Rev. Father M. Canters, who was then assistant priest at Bay City, the first resident pastor. Father Canters remained in charge nearly two years and was succeeded by Father G. M. Girard. Father Girard was pastor nearly six years and was succeeded by Father E. M. DeKiere. Father DeKiere remained in charge over eleven years. Father T. J. Slattery was the next pastor from 1898 to 1900. To Father Slattery succeeded the present pastor, Father T. Luby.

            The entire valuation of the property of St. Mary’s church, including the parish hall, is over fifty thousand dollars. The church contains, besides its nine altar and organ, several paintings of value. The parish of St. Mary’s contains about one hundred and thirty families. The church also has a mission at Birch Run, consisting of about seventy-five families, and a church is being completed this year (1916) at a cost of about eighteen thousand dollars. Father Luby also has charge of this mission.

            The Rev. Father Thomas Luby is a man of unusual qualifications for his work, having broad views and a strong personality. In Genesee county and in more distant localities, his influence has been beneficent, not only in the work of his parish but in combating the more threatening forms of socialism. As a writer of anti-socialistic pamphlets, Father Luby was attracted wide spread and deserved notice.

This article was transcribed by Geraldine Waite from a work by Edwin O. Wood, LL.D., President Michigan Historical Commission, History of Genesee County Michigan Volume I, Her People, Industries and Institutions (Federal Publishing Company: Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916), Pages 729ff

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