About Us
Our Purpose
The Tecumseh Evangelical Friends Church is a member of the Friends Church - Eastern Region. Headed by the Lord Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are committed to glorifying God by:
- Worshiping God in spirit and in truth;
- Leading persons to a saving faith and in the Lord Jesus Christ;
- Nurturing them in their faith and in their knowledge of the Word of God;
- Being a loving, caring body of believers; and
- Deploying believers in Christian service to others.
Our Vision
"Tecumseh Evangelical Friends Church will be a relevant, vibrant, and relational Great Commission and Great Commandment Church presenting Jesus Christ in a variety of ways to people of all backgrounds."
Our Heritage
Tecumseh Evangelical Friends Church
1842 - 2005
The Quakers of Tecumseh, the fourth group of the Society of Friends to be founded in Lenawee County, commenced to hold their meetings at the homes of Aaron Comfort and Samuel Satterthwaite in the year 1842.
These two settlers were the founders of the local society. Their families, in which occurred three intermarriages, constituted the entire membership of the original society. At a still earlier date, Friends from Tecumseh and Macon worshipped at the Raisin Valley Friends Meeting, which was established in 1831 and which today stands about seven miles southwest of Tecumseh.
In 1843 Tecumseh Friends purchased the old Presbyterian session house and moved it into the southwest portion of the village, this serving as the house of worship for nearly fifty years. This building, now used as a dwelling house, stands back in a grove of pine trees near the corner of Cummins and Adrian streets.
"David Lewis was called, as pastor, to Raisin Valley, where he lived for one year, giving his Sabbath mornings to that meeting and the evenings to Tecumseh, seven miles away. His heart seemed set upon this meeting, to build upon its waste places. Their place of worship was a small meeting-house in the suburbs of the village. As a revival progressed, and interest and numbers increased, a plan was laid for a new and larger church in a more convenient location. This plan was developed and excuted the following summer, and near the middle of November 1891, the new church, carpeted, and cushioned throughout, lighted and heated, was dedicated without a cent of debt." (Taken from the Word and Work of David Lewis, in the chapter compiled by Jacob Baker.)
The building committee consisted of Aaron Taylor, Thomas Mead, and J. Newton Satterthwaite, who was treasurer, and who had in his possession in 1936, the original list of contributors for the church building. It may be of interest to know that among the gifts of money from the Eastern Friends, secured through the efforts of David Lewis, was a gift from John Greenleaf Whittier, one of America's best loved poets, also a Quaker.
"As early as two o-clock," states the account of the dedication of the church in the November 26 issue, 1891, of the Tecumseh Herald, "people began to gather at the new edifice from all quarters and when three o-clock had arrived every seat was occupied, camp chairs filled the aisle, and even standing room was at a premium. The service was two hours in length, but was deeply interesting throughout and held the entire congregation to the close."
"About half past four, as the shadows of nightfall approached, the janitor, (Thomas Hanly or Heanly?) touched the button and lo! there was light. The congregation was shocked, -not exactly with the electricty, but with delight, and the services proceeded as smoothly as though nothing had happened."
In 1965, Pastor Paul Brantingham and some members had a vision for a new location and larger facility. The property north of the city limits was purchased and in 1969, a new church was built at a cost of $450, 464.54. The old church property, which had cost $2592.44 in 1891, was sold to the Church of God.
In 1970, the name of the church was changed to Tecumseh Evangelical Friends Church.
A new picnic shelter was erected in 1990 for outdoor fellowship among the church family