Cranston Memorial Presbyterian

"A Christ loving church, friendly and inviting. Good sermons and Christ centered service."

"Everyone was warm and the message was uplifting"

"Welcoming people without judgement and a great presence of the spirit that is biblically based"

"The people in the Church, makes you feel so Welcome! We moved to Florida, but they always think of us ,sending special cards ,to remind us that there thinking of us. I just wanted to take the time to thank you ,for caring. All our Love Mary & Don Haas"

"This Presbyterian Church congregation originally formed on March 11th, 1821 at this site. Since that time it has been a notable force in the community and has lead in many social programs of the day, including becoming a racially integrated church prior to at least 1839. The existing church structure shown was built in 1856. The church hosted the first organizational meetings of the New Richmond Anti-Slavery Society as early as 1836 at a separate location. The church shared its pulpit with a number of well know anti-slavery speakers including James G. Birney, publisher of “The Philanthropist,” Calvin Stowe, George Beecher (who were husband and brother respectively to Harriet Beecher Stowe), John and Alexander T. Rankin (Rankin house). The Rev. Amos Dresser, a Lane Theological Seminary rebel and anti-slavery martyr, was appointed pastor of the church in 1842. The church is listed on the National Underground Railroad register and a historical marker sign can be found at the side of the church. The congregation had women in various leadership roles helping to guide the church; which was unheard of in the early 1900's. Women served on the church board (session) and one women preached from the pulpit in 1930. The Methodist and Presbyterian congregations merged together after the devastating 1937 flood and this Presbyterian structure was the church for both denominations. Bricks from the destroyed Methodist Church were used to build the annex added to the rear of the 1856 structure. This merger also resulted in the unique name change know today as “Cranston Memorial Presbyterian Church”. It is probably the only Presbyterian Church in the world that has been named in honor of a Methodist Bishop! Bishop Earl Cranston lived here in New Richmond and was the leader of the Cranston Methodist Church, which bore his name."