Many immigrants bring their culture with them, including art, style, language, and religion. A prominent feature in West Michigan and in Grand Rapids that still stands today is the rich history in Religion that German immigrants brought. Many of the German congregations were founded in the 1850's and few remain in plain sight today. Both big and small churches have thrived here, some still standing in their original locations.

St. Mary's [Roman] Catholic Church

St. Mary's was organized in 1856, and was formally organized in 1857. Its first congregation only had 33 members but due to a high rate of German immigration to West Michigan its crowd formed to more than 1000 patrons in the early 1890s (1).

This church has only moved once since 1857 to its current location on First Street as of 1873. Its original location sat at between Broadway and Turner. Over its beginning years, thanks to growing members of the German community, St. Mary's opened its first parochial school in 1863. As of 1873, the church has not moved and still features some of its original work and infrastructure, including pillars and olive leaf designs throughout the building.

St. Mary's is most known for its Gothic-revival style structure designed by architect Franz G. Himpler, as well as its stunning stained glass windows which were designed by Heinrich Oidtmann in the 1920s depicting scenes from the life of St. Mary.

The church also has a rich history of German Pastors, including Fr. Henry Beerhorst, Fr. John G. Ehrenstrasser, and Fr. Joseph Schrembs, and many more.

While its first congregation was primarily German immigrants and German-Americans, it now serves both the English and Spanish speaking communities in the area.

Temple Emanuel

According to History of the City of Grand Rapids by Albert Baxter, Temple Emanuel was officially organized on October 2, 1871, by seventeen members. These members include Mayor Julius Houseman, Benjamin Geis, Jacob Barth, Jacob I. Levi, Moses May, Nathan Rodman, Henry S. Pressburg, Jacob Wolf, A. Leavitt, B. Heart, J. Kuppenheimer, D. M. Amberg, Henry Weil, Isaac C. Levi, A. Rodman, S. A. Hart, and H. Kuppenheimer (1).

Its first place sat at the corner of Fountain and Ransom Streets in downtown. As of 1952, it resides on Fulton Street across from Aquinas College. One of the reasons for the big move was to expand so more people could join as well as allow more natural light into the church. This design was made and executed by architect Eric Mendelsohn, including a 1000 square feet mural by painter Lucienne Bloch Dimitroff. There has only been a few major updates to the church, mostly to boost accessibility as basic upkeep (2).

This church primarily served Germans fin its beginning and in the 1890s the congregation adapted to Grand Rapids' growing community of Eastern European Jews. Today, it serves a many people in East Grand Rapids among the Jewish community (1,2).

This church is also home to many wonderful artifacts, including a 350+ year old Torah, as well as Mayor Julius Houseman’s personal library which includes 500 books. They also house a wide variety of artifacts that are on a rotation in the displays located inside the church, thanks to the Peg & Mort Finkelstein Historical Archives. (2)

Immanuel Lutheran Church

The Immanuel Lutheran church was founded in March 1856 and was originally named the "German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Immanuel". Its original location was at the corner of East Bridge and North Division Street here in Grand Rapids (1).

On May 11, 1856, the first Pastor joined the church and just one month later one June 15th the church was incorporated as "St. Immanuel's Church" with just 52 members attending. Among its members were trustees such as Christian G. Blickle, Henry Bremer, Christoph Kusterer, Christian Kusterer, Frederick Oesterle and John Schneider (1).

In its early beginnings, the requirements to attend this church and be a member of this church were quite strict. The rules included but were not limited to previous instruction at a parochial school, to be taught Bible history under the pastor's instruction, confession and catechisms, as well as consistent practices of the religion outside of the church. (1)

One of the neat features of this church was in its parochial school, which embraced its German immigrants. In the parochial school that was linked with the church, they taught in both German and English, as well as other bible courses and studies. (1)

While it originally sat in a smaller building, the building we see today was built in 1889 to meet the needs of the growing immigrant community in Grand Rapids and West Michigan. Since it was built, it hasn't been moved and has deemed itself a 'downtown church' for remaining near the heart of the city. There has been some repairs and upkeep done to modernize it with proper lighting and fixtures, it remains the same Immanuel Lutheran Church that was built more than 120 years ago (3).

German Methodist Episcopal Church

The German Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1858, in connection to the German Lutheran church (Immanuel Lutheran Church). While members of this church were still in connection with Immanuel Lutheran, they withdrew from the church as they felt "they held doctrinal views at variance with the Lutheran standards of faith, and were thereupon constituted a Methodist Episcopal Church," according to Baxter.

Among its founding trustees and member were Reverend Gustav Laas, G. Blickle, M. Blickle,J. Blickle, L. Blickle, C. Kusterer, F. R. Oesterle, and R. Oesterle. During this time, C. Kusterer, F. Oesterle, and another member Julius Berkey had remained members of the previous Immanuel Lutheran Church (1).

For a few years this church worshiped at in a hall near the corners of West Bridge and Scribner streets. Due to a fire in 1875 that destroyed roughly 60 buildings, the church had to find a new place to hold masses. In 1875 they built a small simple structure to hold meetings and masses in. Later, in 1888, the church sold its building and relocated to a larger two story building (1).

This church also celebrated its German roots by holding all masses in German, as well as having connections with the central German Conference.