The First Congregational Church of Durand was incorporated on June 8, 1896. According to the first Annual Report of the Church Clerk the Church was begun with, “…13 charter members, strongly of one determination to live for Christ.” By December of 1897, the membership had more than doubled to thirty members.

It was the Rev. Arthur A. Metcalf of Bancroft Congregational Church who first conceived the idea of organizing a Church in Durand. On May 27, 1896, he visited several families in this fast growing railroad center and invited them to a meeting on the 31st to discuss the possibility of forming a new Congregational Church. At a subsequent meeting on June 5th, the group voted to incorporate. They voted to accept the Bancroft Church Constitution as their own.

The congregation moved quickly. Less than two weeks after the idea for the Church was conceived, the first Worship Service was held, and on April 23, 1899, after only two years and nine months, the present Church building was dedicated. They had selected a plan from the Benjamine Prices Catalogue of 1887. The plan chosen for the Church was in the shape of a cross. Upon entering the building, you symbolize entering the empty cross of goodness overcoming evil. The total cost of this beautiful building was only $4,927.93 back in the late 1890s!

Over the years many improvements and additions have been made to the building, but even more important than this is the spiritual growth that has been fostered over the years. For example, we have had several young people enter the ministry, the first being Elmer E. Baker in 1938.

With 370 members and friends we are currently a one Pastor sized Church in which our members and friends can truly relate as a “Church Family”, owning one another’s hopes and cares as their own. We are proud of our fiscal responsibility and our missionary outreach. We pray that all will be strangers here but once by offering a congenial and inspiring spiritual atmosphere, with an ever-enlarging opportunity to serve our Lord and our fellow humanity.