History of Church of the Messiah
By the early 1850’s the Episcopalians needed a new and larger church, so they asked Calvin Otis to design a larger church to be located at the corner of Congress and Shelby. He built an early English Gothic study building with lancet windows. He added a steeple to make the church highly visible in Detroit and made that steeple with a smaller turret. The interior of the church was completed in a very simple manner reminiscent of a New England meetinghouse. The church became St. Paul protestant Episcopal Cathedral.
At the end of the Nineteenth Century, People’s State Bank desired to build a large and impressive building. This is the extremely impressive building designed by McKim, Mead, and White located at Fort and Shelby and completed in 1901. Calvin Otis’ beautiful church was moved, stone by stone, to the corner of E. Grand Boulevard and E. Lafayette where it has stood for more than a century. Shortly thereafter, the Episcopalians began constructing their cathedral at the intersection of Woodward and East Warren. The relocated church became Church of the Messiah.
As you all well know, Church of the Messiah is a church that serves and cares for the least of these in our congregation which is made up of 60 % African American male under the age of 30. This is no easy feat since we are facing serious issues with our 130-year building (leaking and damaged roof, water damage to the entire basement and 130-year-old plumbing), as well as astronomical utility bills and operating expenses totaling well over $8,000 monthly, which we NEVER bring in. This is where we need your help. We are looking for at least 50 financial partners who are bold and committed enough to donate $100 a month (or more) FOR at least 1 YEAR!