Our History

The first white settlers came to Hadley in 1834.  Two years later the township was organized, a year before Michigan was admitted into the Union in 1837  At this time the township was without roads, and the inhabitants were so scattered that it was necessary to keep election polls open for two days.  Naturally, religious work was correspondingly difficult, but in 1838 Hadley experienced a sweeping revival which started at a temperance meeting.  At that meeting it is said that all the adult population of the township was converted with only two exceptions.  

The Baptist Church of Hadley began in a log cabin house on June 23, 1838, when a small group met at the home of Abram Tunison to consider banding together for the maintenance of the Gospel.  That fall the church was established and Rev. W.D. Potter became their first pastor in 1839.  Due to a migratory population, the group disbanded in 1845, but three years later the remaining members decided to resume services.  The first church edifice was built in 1855.

By 1919 the population of Hadley had declined due to migration.  As a result, both the Baptist and the Methodist churches were having difficulty and decided to federate.  Services were held in the Methodist church with furnishings including pews being brought over from the Baptist church.  The Baptist church building was still maintained by the federated group, and was used as a community building.  This arrangement helped both churches survive for the next 30 years.  In 1949, the Baptist church was reorganized and returned to the old Baptist church building with 24 charter members. 

In the years that followed, The Baptist Church of Hadley saw much growth.  Additional property was purchased, and additions and renovations were made to the building.  The congregation grew in size and many young people went to college and entered full-time Christian service.  Youth ministries and missions outreaches flourished, extending the church's impact beyond its small community.