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.
Cascade Christian Church
In the heart of Cascade near the intersection of Thornapple River Drive and Cascade Road, one of the oldest area churches can be found. In the early 1860's, the Stow family, son Alfred and parents Zebulon and Edytha, led the efforts to establish a church along the Thornapple River in Kent County. Their efforts were rewarded in 1864 when they invited Elder Alanson Wilcox to be the preacher. Wilcox and sixteen charter members created what would be the Cascade Christian Church and the oldest of the Christian Church denomination in Kent County.
Currently the church grounds consists of the original chapel which was erected in 1880 and is the site of small gatherings. Its colorful stained glass windows and circular image of Jesus praying is reminiscent of days gone by. Traditional church services are still held on Sunday mornings in this intimate setting with seating for 80 parishioners in what is now referred to as "the chapel".
A more modern church building is also on this site and was completed in 1965. At the time of the church's centennial celebration in 1964, the church membership was over 400. In contrast to the quaint chapel, the new building sanctuary has a high, vaulted wood grain ceiling and hosts a contemporary service on Sunday mornings.
(source: Churches Historical Marker)