The Castle Test Kitchen recently took a closer look at First Congregational Church in downtown Saginaw, highlighting the sanctuary’s unique ceiling decor through the years, as it was the 50th anniversary of their reconstruction after a dramatic fire that decimated the structure. This made us look toward other church anniversaries in the area—and we are excited to showcase a church outside the city today, Second Presbyterian Church.
Second Presbyterian Church at 2665 Midland Road in Saginaw Township is celebrating its 160th anniversary in 2024. Founded in January of 1864, the congregation has had its fair share of ups and downs but continues to thrive as both a house of worship and place for social functions today.
The First Presbyterian Society of Saginaw Township, which would eventually become Second Presbyterian Church, originally met at a couple different locations prior to the construction of their first building. A church is more than a building, and often a flock of devotees exists well before a formal sanctuary—as was the case with the First Presbyterian Society. The charter members held their meetings at the McLellan School (later known as the White School) near Midland Road and State Street as well as at the District No. 2 School (also known as Ure School or the Brick School), just three miles up Midland Road from McLellan.
In fact, it wasn’t until 1872 that whisperings of a building could be heard at the Presbyterians’ regular Board of Trustees meeting. And whisperings were just what they were; despite building committees being formed to look into land, acquire architects, builders, etc., nothing came of the project for another 10 years.
“[T]he object of the meeting [was] to consider the advisability of building a Meeting House and if best to do so, where to build and when to do it,” noted a report by founding member Robert Ure of the trustees’ meeting on June 12, 1882.
This time, the group of worshippers was serious. At that same meeting a potential location was decided upon—G.W. Bacon’s property—and the size of the building—about 30x40 feet. By the following meeting, subscriptions were raised in the amount $1400 toward the project and Bacon had promised the property for its use.
The Second Presbyterian Church building was dedicated on June 17, 1883. The structure, finalized to be 30x43 feet in size with brick veneered exterior walls, was a welcomed home to the growing group for 52 years.
During this time, the Second Presbyterians both found themselves needing to shutter the building’s doors (from 1919-1935) and then needing to expand the building. What followed was a series of expansions as the congregation itself and its need for a place of social and educational gatherings increased throughout the 1940s, 50s, and sixties.
The first expansion included a new sanctuary with a basement space for Sunday school at a cost of $50,000. This initial expansion seemed to join the congregation together over this very cooperative project—with members of the congregation getting involved in excavation, masonry, painting, or raising money toward the cause. This group spirit strengthened during the late 40s and early 50s over the church building project, leading to the founding of other groups within the congregation, such as the Second Presbyterian Men’s Club. The expansion was dedicated on May 24, 1953.
“Included in the new sanctuary is a new chancel finished in dark birch with a beautiful grain panelled [sic] background. A new alter table with corresponding new pulpit and lecture were the gifts of one of the newer young couples received into the church. A baptismal font of the same type and from the same firm was presented to the congregation by another young member. Gifts of a solid brass missal, a pair of flower vases, and two candle-holders of the same type were also received to grace the alter table.” (Pastor W.S. Shelly).
Over the next seventy-some years, the building saw extreme changes with further expansion of more classroom, dining and kitchen space; annexation of nearby homes first into the church manse, later into more educational space; tearing down of the original 1883 structure for additional office and classroom spaces; and extensive modernization and remodeling. Throughout this period, however, the Presbyterians continued their devotion on Midland Road and the Men’s Club, amongst others, stayed the course as a part of the congregation’s activities.
The Men’s Club Fish Fry
Started around 1950, the Second Presbyterian Men’s Club fish fry was a way to raise money for the group toward important church projects, like building maintenance and repairs, but just as importantly as a way to get congregants to work together and bring together the local community with the church in fellowship. With preparations for the event (now twice yearly) taking place over several days, the fish fry has become one of somewhat famous proportions in the Saginaw area.
Denoted by the Second Presbyterians own advertising as “Saginaw’s Best Fish Fry,” the Presbyterian Men’s fish fry (they’ve since dropped the “club” moniker) includes scratch made home fries-style potatoes, vinegar coleslaw, tartar sauce, hand-breaded fish, and dessert. Today’s recipe comes from the category of dessert—the Second Presbyterian fish fry’s famous lemon meringue pie.
While patrons won’t find the lemon meringue pie on the menu at Second Presbyterian Church’s annual fundraisers today—due to concerns over the lack of meringue refrigeration—it served as the famously favorite dessert to accompany the fish dinner for decades. According to the “Lemon Pie Procedure” there are just four steps to make the pie (or 92 pies—and two days' time-- in the case of this church recipe):
1. Pie shells, pricking and baking—Thursday AM
2. Cooking filling & filling baked shells
3. Making Meringue & spreading on pies
4. Baking Meringues Steps 2,3,4 are done on Friday AM
The Recipe: Second Presbyterian Lemon Meringue Pie
CTK Interpretation
Pie Filling:
1 pie shell, baked and cooled (homemade or store bought)
1 package My-T-Fine Lemon pie filling (not instant)
1/3 C white sugar
2 egg yolks
2 1/3 C hot water
Meringue:
¼ C white sugar
Dash cream of tartar
2 egg whites
Directions:
Prick and blind bake pie crust of choice (homemade or store bought). Cool. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Add My-T-Fine package, egg yolks,1/3 cup sugar, and 1/3 hot water in pan on stovetop. Beat well. Add remaining hot water and stir well. Cook until thickened over medium low heat. Set aside while making meringue.
For meringue: Beat egg whites until frothy. Add dash of cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form; gradually add ¼ cup white sugar and beat until stiff peaks, but not dry.
Assemble pie by pouring filling into crust (no need for filling to be cooled). Smooth top. Carefully spread meringue over filling in shell, making sure to spread meringue completely to the crust to seal in filling. Score meringue into 7 slices.
Place pie into pre-heated oven and watch closely. Toast meringue until just golden. Cool completely. May be refrigerated, but meringue will begin to weep, so it is best to eat it the same day.
Notes:
The CTK took the easy way out and used a store-bought frozen crust. It did not detract from the lemony interior. Don't let a pie crust scare you away from trying this treat!
Second Presbyterian Church holds services every Sunday at 9 a.m. Check https://www.spcsaginaw.org/ for details.
The next fish fry is in April, so follow Second Presbyterian on Facebook for details.