Our Story

There was no church or Sunday school in this vicinity of Wakelee until a family by the name of McKee moved in at about 1869 from south of Corey, Michigan. Porter McKee, Sr. and Samuel McKee started meetings at the Star school house. They walked to Three Rivers and back to get permission from proper authorities to organize a class and became a part of what was the Newberg Circuit. On February 6, 1870, Rev. Whitney Hough organized a class known as Victory Class held at Star school house. Corey and Wakelee were the only two that ever had a Church, and the parsonage was at Corey. The Victory Class was made up of 14 charter members: D.P. McKee, Samuel McKee, Thomas McKee, Sarah McKee, Essington McKee, Miranda McKee, J.P. Walker, Orlinda Walker, Addie Walker, W.R. Walker, Bell Stevens, Alice Rudd, Zelia Cox and Elizabeth Manior. The membership kept growing and 1891 records show a membership of 72. After several years, they moved to Wakelee in what was known as the Ben Higgins Hall and then to the Red Ribbon hall which had been built as a temperance hall. The congregation decided to build a church and on Dec. 19, 1892, papers were drawn up and subscriptions entered for our first Methodist Protestant Church at Wakelee. A lot was purchased from S.T. Reed. A Mr. Brown of Marcellus drew the plans. After much work by the faithful and money donated and borrowed, the cornerstone was laid on July 6, 1893.

At the time of the laying of the cornerstone, subscriptions for $429.00 toward the debt had been taken. Work went on, but Thomas McKee and Ed. McKenzie, thinking the back wasn't designed right, paid to make the alcove on the south side if the building as it is now. The bell had been ordered and donated by Porter McKee, Jr. The Ladies Aid furnished the money for the chandeliers that were used for lighting. On January 15, 1894, the dedication was held. A great many subscriptions were received that day to help with the debt. As time went on some of the subscriptions could not be paid. Trustees had borrowed and borrowed money so many times, Essington McKee, Thomas McKee, Dallas McKee, Mr. Burney, Shester Snyder and Ed McKenzie paid the debt and if ever enough was collected they would be repaid. In 1919 all were repaid. Wakelee, not being able to support a pastor alone, united with Porter Methodist Protestant Church in Van Buren County in 1925 and in 1927 asked conference to change the name of the church to Wakelee Church as it is the only church in Wakelee. We stayed with Porter until Methodist Protestants and Methodist Episcopal united as Methodist in 1942. Wakelee Methodist was then paired Marcellus Methodist and shared pastors over the years. In 1942 the 50th anniversary of starting building of the church was celebrated. January 13, 1944, was 50 years from dedication. In 1989, the decision was made to build a fellowship hall. Within the congregation there were people with most of the necessary building skills. Once again everyone pitched in to help. The fellowship hall was dedicated on May 14, 1991, and completely paid off by October of 1994.

At the time of the laying of the cornerstone, subscriptions for $429.00 toward the debt had been taken. Work went on, but Thomas McKee and Ed. McKenzie, thinking the back wasn't designed right, paid to make the alcove on the south side if the building as it is now. The bell had been ordered and donated by Porter McKee, Jr. The Ladies Aid furnished the money for the chandeliers that were used for lighting. On January 15, 1894, the dedication was held. A great many subscriptions were received that day to help with the debt. As time went on some of the subscriptions could not be paid. Trustees had borrowed and borrowed money so many times, Essington McKee, Thomas McKee, Dallas McKee, Mr. Burney, Shester Snyder and Ed McKenzie paid the debt and if ever enough was collected they would be repaid. In 1919 all were repaid. Wakelee, not being able to support a pastor alone, united with Porter Methodist Protestant Church in Van Buren County in 1925 and in 1927 asked conference to change the name of the church to Wakelee Church as it is the only church in Wakelee. We stayed with Porter until Methodist Protestants and Methodist Episcopal united as Methodist in 1942. Wakelee Methodist was then paired Marcellus Methodist and shared pastors over the years. In 1942 the 50th anniversary of starting building of the church was celebrated. January 13, 1944, was 50 years from dedication. In 1989, the decision was made to build a fellowship hall. Within the congregation there were people with most of the necessary building skills. Once again everyone pitched in to help. The fellowship hall was dedicated on May 14, 1991, and completely paid off by October of 1994.