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.
Second Congregational United Church of Christ
In October 1869, a group of parishioners met in a small, frame building which was the beginning of the Second Congregational Church. This new church was a mission project of Park (First) Congregational Church in downtown Grand Rapids to serve the rapidly growing population on the north end of the city.
Located initially just north of Leonard Street on Canal Street (now Monroe Ave), the church earned the nickname of “The Bullfrog Church” due to it close proximity to the Grand River. During the sermons, visiting pastors had to try and preach over the deep-booming croaking of the large frogs in the area. In 1874, the stipulation posed to the congregation by a perspective permanent pastor was that before he would accept the position, the church had to be moved to drier ground. Land was obtained at the corner of Plainfield and Grove and the building was placed on log rollers and pulled by horses to the new location.
As the church grew in membership, the need for larger facilities was felt. After years of fundraising activities, a new brick church building was dedicated in 1900.
Following WWI, the congregation felt it was time to build again to accommodate the large Sunday School class numbers. In 1928, property was purchased at the current location on Chesire Drive and on Easter Sunday the architectural plans were unveiled. Unfortunately, the arrival of the Great Depression and WWII put all dreams of a new church building on hold.
During its 75th anniversary celebration in 1944, a new financial campaign was launched to move forward with the new church building. On Palm Sunday, 1950, the congregation marched in procession from the old building at Plainfield and Grove to its current location. In 1959 a chapel and education wing were also added to the current site. During this time, the name of the church was also changed to Second Congregational United Church of Christ.
(source: http://www.2ndchurch.com/About_Us/History_of_2nd_Church.aspx)