Although the skyline of the city has changed with the competition to build the tallest building in Grand Rapids, one item remains the same – the many steeples of the churches that are the foundation of our ancestors who settled along the banks of the Grand River.
Each of these represents our past and the immigrants that settled in our area to give Grand Rapids the nickname “Furniture City”.
In this series you will follow the Steeple Chase throughout this great city and view the awe inspiring architecture of our forefathers. The distinct architectural styles represent the great churches of Europe from which these immigrants fled to find a new life in the United States.
This is not meant to promote any one religion, but to show how all have blended together within the City of Grand Rapids to make this one great place to live.
North Park Presbyterian Church
When driving along I-96 between Plainfield Avenue and US 131, the steeple of North Park Presbyterian Church can be seen rising up from what appears to be a spaceship on the side of the road according to kids as they ride with their parents.
For over a 100 years, North Park Presbyterian Church has been a part of this north end community of Grand Rapids.
Initially just a Sunday school for adults and children in 1910 by a local pastor, the success of the program soon prompted attendees to form a formal church in 1914. On November 26, 1921 a groundbreaking ceremony took place at the current location. During the 1950’s, church membership had grown and church leaders began making plans to expand the church to the south, but soon found that this would interfere with the new Interstate highway I-96.
During the 1960’s a new, ultra-modern round sanctuary was built to the east of the original building and the two were connected by an extension.
(Source: http://www.mlive.com/rockford/index.ssf/2014/07/north_park_presbyterian_church.html