St. Mary's Church

St Marys Church.jpg (93962 bytes)

Saint Mary’s Church

In the Township of Croton, located at Locust and 48th Streets, stands Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. Built in 1853 on a 22 rod square section of land, it was the first church built in Newaygo County.

The original building was eighteen feet by twenty. In 1930, an additional 18 square feet were added. Shortly after that, a new steel roof was installed.

Saint Mary’s was used until the fall of 1943 when a new parish, St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, was built in Newaygo. St. Mary’s became the Mission of St. Bartholomew’s and fell into disuse.

In 1976, Saint Mary’s was given to the care of the Newaygo County Historical Society with the right to restore the building to its original state. Germane Carpenter of the Society took charge of finding volunteers and materials to repair the church.

The interior of the church was cleared of the debris that had accumulated over the years. The original crucifix was even found, nearly 150 years old. The chimney was rebuilt, window panes puttied, a new roof was put on, rotted siding was replaced, and the whole building was repainted.

Rededication of the church was held on June 10, 1979 with approximately 152 people crowded into the space that normally seated around 80 persons. About 60 people peered in from outside. Many of those who attended the rededication were direct descendants of the original builders and had attended church there years ago.

The church was painted in the late 1990's and again in 2007. In 2008, the Township of Croton pursued legal counsel for the four "private" cemeteries within its jurisdiction, one being Saint Mary's. In 2009, the building and surrounding land were legally turned over to the Society with the cemetery land remaining in the township's hands.

On the second Sunday in September of every year, The Newaygo County Society of History and Genealogy meets at St. Mary's Church to remember the history and celebrate with song as well as Society updates and a general program. Meetings are held at 3:00pm with refreshments served afterwards.