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Historical Perspectives...(Cont. page 2)I, Too, Minister Here.Music has always been a serious pursuit of First Congregational in Battle Creek, as significant as the endeavors of the city's opera house since the 1850s. The musical ministry began with traditional/classical music and has expanded to include other forms. Choirs for voice, bell and other instrumentals continue to deepen our worship and communal experiences. Other forms of the arts have been born, and continue to thrive, in the embracing atmosphere of the Congregational Church. The church grew musically and culturally in the 1890s, establishing itself as an independent authoritative body. In 1894, the church leased the ground floor of its building to the public schools as classrooms while No. 4 School (Jefferson) was being remodeled and enlarged. The next year, women of the church organized the first kindergarten in Battle Creek. It continued for about 10 years until the public schools set up a kindergarten program. The church also housed the first public library in the city. By 1905, the Brick Church on Main Street had stood for 58 years and undergone extensive renovation and expansion. There was no room to increase the sanctuary's size or extend the building. The spiritual climate of the day welcomed change, and a resolution for a new building went forward. On Oct. 20, 1907, the cornerstone was laid for the present sanctuary. On Oct. 11, 1908, the building was dedicated. Breaking with the architectural trend of the day, the trustees chose a style influenced by Byzantine church builders, with a domed roof, rounded sides and a pillared portico. The interior space was oriented toward a platform and organ loft at one side, instead of centered under the dome as in the Greek Orthodox church. One feature was, and still is, its easily repositionable furniture. The building's erratic sound was finally corrected by the installation of balanced electronic amplification. The church still provided the community with its best meeting hall for lectures and musical performances, while its uniqueness attracted top quality groups and speakers to Battle Creek. The entire Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra could perform comfortably in the building into the 1930s. Some nationally known figures to lecture here included Judge Ben Lindsay, former President William Howard Taft, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, B. Fay Mills, Elbert Hubbard (just months before he died with the sinking Titanic), and Michigan Governor Woodbridge N. Ferris. These and other speakers were sponsored by the Men's Club of the church. During pre-WWI, in the winter of 1916-17, young men of the community used the church dining room as a drill hall. The church was also active in supporting the Boy Scouts of America. The first troop in Battle Creek met in the basement. In 1914, the church relaxed its independent stance, and applied for and received membership in the Lansing Association of Congregational Churches. The official name became First Congregational Church of Battle Creek on Oct. 4, 1915. The Lansing association later became the Michigan Congregational Conference with whom the church has maintained membership. As a church, however, it has also maintained an independent theological position. Although both liberal and individualistic in outlook and view of Christianity, members of the church had then and continue now a deep and lively interest in moral issues, problems of evil and pain, and their own role in the community. In the 1920s, the ministers recognized this with a Question Box series that met after regular services. As many as 135 persons would remain to ask hard questions and listen to discussions. On Nov. 20, 1927, a church service was given by a small group of members in the studio of radio station WKPB. It was well received. Requests for more broadcasts were finally answered when on Sept. 7, 1930, the service was broadcast over WELL by remote line from the auditorium. The first broadcast of the series that has continued to the present was over a splice to a telephone line. It was so popular that a permanent line was strung to the station. For years the radio ministry fund scraped bottom or went momentarily into the red each week, but it has managed to survive. The broadcast was switched to station WBCK on Nov. 17, 1957. |
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