First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti

In 1827, just four years after Benjamin Woodruff and his family and friends established the first settlement near where the Chicago Trail crossed the Huron River, several newly arrived Presbyterians gathered in the school house on the corner of what is now Michigan and Washington Streets to hold the first worship service and Sunday School. On Oct. 4, 1830, a religious society was organized under Territorial Statute.

The current facility was dedicated Sept. 23, 1857. It was gutted and rebuilt to its present boundaries in Sept. 1899. The membership was at a peak of 560. The congregation went through hard-times in the early 1940's with membership dropping to 110 and the building in general disrepair. Upon the call of the Rev. Raymond Bair (1941-1961) as pastor, the congregation flourished with the post-war boom, growing by 1958 to 600 members.

During the subsequent 50 years, the church has had two ministers, the Rev. Laurence Woodruff (1963-1998) and the current pastor, Rev. Keith Geiselman (since 2000). Under Pastor Geiselman's leadership focusing on ministries of compassion--seeing Christ in each other and the world--personal faith, growth and grace, the congregation has expanded its community outreach and expression of Chrisitian faith.

"A Brief History of the First Presbyterian Church Building" (pdf)