Historic Michigan church to close its doors

MARINE CITY, Mich. - Members of the congregation at Marine City United Methodist Church could be forgiven if there were a few tears this Christmas morning.

After being a presence for 162 years in Marine City's spiritual community, the church hosted its final Christmas Day service Wednesday.

The church is closing.

It will have its final service on Sunday, Jan. 26, and the doors of the red brick building at North Main and Broadway will shut for good on Friday, Jan. 31.

"My parents were married here, I was married here, my son was married here," said Darlene Markel, a church member who lives in Cottrellville Township. "I was baptized here, my son was baptized here, and my grandchildren were baptized here."

The church's membership has declined from a high of 650 to 700 in the 1950s - when its services were broadcast on the radio - to the current roster of 56 people.

"That's total membership, including shut-ins and people who don't live in the area but are still members," said Harvey Finsterwald of Marine City and a church member with his wife, Chris.

Bob Rhoades, a church member and Marine City resident, said the declining membership is a trend.

"The younger people are not joining anything, churches, social clubs, ... so as the older members are dying off, the membership is shrinking," Rhoades said.

Marine City United Methodist had 124 members as recently as 2001, Chris Finsterwald said. Now, "the average age is in the 70s."

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Historic Michigan church to close its doors