Burlingame Congregational United Church of Christ (Wyoming, Mich.)

Church established as Burlingame Congregational Church in Wyoming, Michigan in 1924. The church disbanded in 2009.

From the description of Burlingame Congregational United Church of Christ, Wyoming, Mich., records, 1924-2009. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 463292105

The Burlingame Congregational Church was chartered April 28, 1924. Growing out of Grand Rapids Park Congregational Church, the church reflected the growth of Wyoming Township and the need for another Congregational Church. On December 4, 1925, a new building was dedicated.

By the end of 1927 there were 178 in Sunday School and 110 church members. The Rev. Arden Johnson was the pastor from 1925 to 1929. For the following two years, the Rev. Francis Burchell, who was also a dentist, served as interim pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. Alfred Allard who served 1931 to 1936. The depression brought the church financial problems and loss of membership. Many of the state church officers wanted to close the church, but the Rev. Edwin Richard Evans was assigned to see if the church could be saved. He immediately set about rebuilding the church. Over the next seventeen years the church prospered. The membership grew, the building was enlarged, and an organ was purchased. At the age of sixty-six, Rev. Evans decided to seek a smaller church in a small town.

When Rev. Homer E. Dalrymple came in 1954, the church was crowded and in the need of a new larger building. A canvass committee was appointed to raise funds. Within three years, this committee reached its goal and a building committee was organized. Ground breaking was March 2, 1958, and dedication January 11, 1959. The Rev. Dalrymple resigned effective June 30, 1971, after a pastorate of seventeen years.

The Rev. William Herold was installed August 15, 1971, and served until 1976. He was followed by Leland Booker (1977-1981) the Rev. David Lee Smith (1981-2005), and the Rev. George Miller (2005-2009). Beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, the church experienced dwindling attendance and an increasingly aging membership. When combined with the high cost of maintaining the church facility, the inevitable decision was made in July 2009 to disband.

From the guide to the Burlingame Congregational United Church of Christ records, 1924-2009, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)