Lost records and a building fire. Calvary Presbyterian Church of Detroit has a complex history. It began as a Mission Sunday School in May 1868. The school met in a small building on Harrison Avenue. It was previously a grocery store.
In October 1868, the school moved to a cottage. This cottage was on Michigan Avenue near the toll gate. During the summer of 1869, a lot was purchased. It was located on the southeast corner of Maybury Grand and Butternut Street.
Calvary Church was officially organized on October 3, 1872. The Presbytery of Detroit founded it. With 16 members, it was the sixth Presbyterian Church in Detroit. A church building began in 1887. It was at the corner of Maybury Grand and Michigan.
In November 1914, the church decided to open a mission church. It was at the corner of Grand River and Vicksburg. The Mission used a portable wooden structure. Another church mission had used it on Gratiot Avenue. Construction on the permanent structure started in October 1916. The Vicksburg addition was known as the Sutherland Memorial Building. Construction began in October 1932. It continued despite the depression. The addition was completed in 1939.
The move from Michigan Avenue to Grand River and Vicksburg had reasons. Meatpacking facilities surrounded the Michigan Avenue property. They encroached on church space. The church saw new housing growth around Grand River and Vicksburg in 1916. They recognized an opportunity for church growth. Calvary grew to 1700 members in 1939. Pastors David Sutherland, Leslie Bectel, Frank Storch, and Raymond Swartzback served the church.
The neighborhood changed in the late 1950s. The neighborhood shifted from white to black over the next 35 years. Membership declined. This affected church finances. The building became too large for the shrinking membership. Church upkeep became the priority.
In 1990, Calvary faced financial difficulty. Monteith Memorial at Seven Mile and Greenview planned to close. Its pastor of over twenty years, Ray Lumley, retired. Rev. James Mitcham, Calvary’s Pastor for ten years, also retired. Calvary began a self-study. Some suggested relocation. They considered the building too large and expensive. The congregation agreed to relocate only if they could remain Calvary. The building on Grand River and Vicksburg was sold. Another congregation occupies it now.
Since moving September 29, 1991, to the old Monteith Memorial building on Seven Mile and Greenview, they acquired a new Pastor, Rev. Kevin R. Johnson. Membership and giving increased. Past moves by Calvary were inspired by God and successful. They felt their move would also result in success.
Rev. Johnson served as Calvary’s pastor for 24 years. He retired honorarily in 2018. Rev. Johnson continued serving the community. He had outreach programs and community connections. Calvary remained a part of its neighborhood. The church opened its doors for community use.
Rev. Gregory E. Bryant joined Calvary in March 2021. He was their Temporary Supply Pastor during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a member of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit. Rev. Bryant earned a Doctor of Ministry degree. He graduated from the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in the fall of 2021.
Finding reliable historical information about Calvary Presbyterian is difficult. The same building might be bought and sold many times. It hosts different denominations. This leaves a baffling paper trail. The old church was sold to Parker, Webb & Co. meat packers. They wanted the land sooner to expand their operations. The company offered the church more money. They also offered to store the church possessions in one of their warehouses. The church accepted their offer. The warehouse storing the church records caught fire. All records and most church items were lost.
Calvary Presbyterian Church on Grand River was dedicated on November 17, 1918. Construction cost $70,000. It took two years. From 1900 to 1940, the church grew rapidly. It went from 665 members in 1912 to 1700 members in 1939. An addition to the church started in 1932. It finished in 1939. It added classroom space for over 1,000 Sunday school students.
The neighborhood around the church changed in the 1950s and 60s. Parishioners moved to the suburbs. Attendance declined. By the late 80s, the congregation struggled to manage the building’s upkeep. Calvary moved to a smaller building at 7 Mile and Greenview in 1991.