Our History

When Iron Mountain was founded in 1879, the Hulst Millie Mine and Chapin Mine, both active mines in the area, needed workers. They looked to Cornwall, England, because miners there were experienced. When the Cornish came to the Upper Peninsula, they brought with them Methodism and the need for a church.

In 1881, the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Iron Mountain was built at the corner of Second and Chapin Streets. The building was built by the Chapin Mining Company but was likely financed by funds held back from miners' pay. The structure became, as a City Council Resolution in 2001 stated, "the oldest religious building in Iron Mountain." In other words, it was Iron Mountain's  "First Church."

In 1885 the ground under Chapin Pit began to sink. So in 1887 the building was moved two blocks north to its present site at the corner of Fourth and Chapin Street. Sinking ground was replaced by solid rock, something very apparent when we had to redo the foundation a few years ago. Thus, the church earned its motto: "The Church Built on Solid Rock."

With the Cornish miners being the primary members of the congregation, Cornish traditions took hold, and even to this day, Cornish heritage can be found in the church's activities. The church's present day Cornish tea, which recently transformed into Cornish Market, has served the area for over 60 years with such Cornish treats as scalded cream on apple pie, seedy buns, saffron buns, currant cookies, and hot potato cake. Lately, mini pasties, a staple of Cornish miner's meals, were added. Thus, present-day First Church celebrates its Cornish ancestors every year.

In 1968,  the United Methodist Church was created to become a major Protestant denomination  from the union of the Methodist Church, and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Shortly after this formation, First Methodist Church of Iron Mountain officially became First United Methodist Church of Iron Mountain. We remained with the United Methodist denomination until 2023.

In May 2022, due to theological differences on several issues, conservative Methodists formed a new denomination called the Global Methodist Church.  Through a Charge Conference, First Church unanimously voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, and join the Global Methodist Church.  That process was completed and as of July 1, 2023, we are officially members of the Global Methodist Church and our new name is First Global Methodist Church of Iron Mountain.

As such, we affirm that the core of the Christian faith is revealed in Scripture as “the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3; NRSV). We look to the Bible therefore as our authority and trustworthy guide, which “is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16; NRSV). Illuminated by tradition, reason, and experience, the revelation of Scripture is the church’s primary and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. Many people have come and gone from First Church, but one thing has remained constant and that is the preaching and teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.