Historic Chapel Hill closes doors
7/2/2012
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- More than 30 years ago, Lani Cunningham drove by Chapel Hill United Methodist Church as she traveled back and forth to work every day.
“The little white church on the hill called to me,” she remembers.
She and her husband Darrell began then to attend the church, located at the far north end of Marsh Road at Coleman Road in East Lansing. Their sons and granddaughters were baptized there. Lani also persuaded her mother to attend Chapel Hill.
“It’s been an important part of my spiritual journey,” she says.
Soon, her journey with Chapel Hill will end, as the church is slated to close its doors at the end of the month.
Current Pastor Ellen Zienert and Lansing United Methodist District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Robert Hundley will lead the last Sunday morning service at 11 a.m. June 24, followed by a catered dinner to which the church has invited current and past worshipers and pastors.
Cunningham’s story is repeated by other congregation members who are mourning the coming loss of their church home.
“Chapel Hill has been my rock,” says Jean Schaibly Smith, whose parents joined the church 74 years ago and brought her and her four siblings to the church as babies. “I have always felt comfortable and at peace there, in rough as well as in good times.”
Schaibly Smith was married at the church, raised her children there and fondly recalls the community chicken dinners for which her mom used to provide baking powder biscuits “by the hundreds,” preparing them at home and baking them in the church ovens “so they’d come out warm and fresh.”
“Chapel Hill’s been like a second family to me,” says Schaibly Smith.
Richard Ahti and his wife, Diane, are relative newcomers, having been married in the church and joined its roster seven years ago.
“There has been more of a family feel to this church than we’ve felt in any other,” he says. “It was the old country church appeal that brought us here and we’ve enjoyed our church family as long as we’ve been here. We’re sorry to see it closing.”
Many people recognize the church as they drive by, especially at night, when they can look up and see the cross illuminated on the front of the building. The church offers a phone number for prayers on its street sign.
In earlier years, the church was on the “country” northern end of the Haslett/East Lansing area. It was established in 1878 as the Pine Lake Methodist Episcopal Church. The building, still using its original sanctuary with its straight-backed pews, was built in 1879, when it was named the South Bath Methodist Church. It became Chapel Hill Methodist in 1956.
The building has been lovingly cared for, well maintained. Stained glass windows and a hand-stitched quilt enhance the historic interior, while a new fellowship hall, kitchen, restrooms, office and narthex were added in 1982.
Today, the church and parsonage are surrounded on three sides by Saginaw Street, I69 and freeway on and off ramps. The dwindling numbers in the congregation and their advancing average age have led to the church closing.
“It’s a sad, sad time,” says Cunningham. “It was a very difficult decision to close the church, but one most of us thought would come. We just don’t have the people any more to see the church survive, even to physically care for it.”
"I am very proud of all Chapel Hill congregation members,” says Pastor Ellen Zienert. “I believe it takes as much faith and courage to end a congregation when it's time as it does to start a new one."
In 2004, Lani Cunningham wrote a poem to commemorate Chapel Hill’s 125th anniversary. It’s a tribute to Chapel Hill and probably echoes the feelings many have for their church homes. It follows:
The Church On the Hill
There’s been a church on the hill for a hundred years or so.
There’s a church on the hill, and how I love it so.
Its quiet strength called to me when I was passing by.
So I drove up to that church, on the hill so high.
The people, warm and friendly, welcomed me right in.
I sat down and prayed, and asked forgiveness for my sin.
Families and friends, many memories do we share.
We help each other, love each other, show that we care.
We’ve cried together, laughed together, shared a hug or two.
We thank our God and praise our Lord, for spirits we renew.
The church on the hill feels like my home now, you know.
There’s a church on the hill, and how I love it so.
Reported by Judy Marr