Our Story

The Church at Hemlock Farms was founded as an ecumenical Protestant Church. Originally worship was held in individual homes. A need for summer ministry materialized in 1968 under the Hemlock Farms Ministry Committee and seminarians served from the June through Labor Day. Grants of $500 each from Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Methodist and Episcopal churches (PLUME) supported the ministry.

In May of 1970, the Reverend Harry Haines served as the first summer pastor with pastoral supply continuing throughout the year on the fourth Sunday of each month.

The developer of Hemlock Farms offered land for religious purposes and on May 23,1971 the deed was accepted by Mrs. James Markham. By-Laws were adopted and the church organized under PLUME. A successful building campaign resulted in the September 1,1974 groundbreaking of "The Little Brown Church"; Upon dissolution of PLUME, the congregation voted to affiliate with the Reformed Church in America and the Evangelical Covenant Church of America in November 21,1992. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Buttimer arrived in 1975 to serve a two-day a week ministry. After his retirement in 1985, Reverends Manger and Dunsmore served as interim pastors until The Reverend Dr. Donald Drewett was called in 1986. Following his resignation in 1996, retired Methodist ministers, Reverends Arthur Barton and Reverend Robert J. Duncan, Sr. were invited to serve the church, along with Reverend Dr. Robert J. Duncan, Jr. and Reverend Dale Sandstrom. Upon their retirement, the congregation voted to seek a full-time minister and called the Rev. Dr. Herbert Jacobsen in February 2004 who retired in 2024.

The building expanded in 1980 (Fellowship Hall), in 1988 (Offices and Classroom), in 1996 (Present Sanctuary) and 2002 (Kitchen and more Classrooms). Through God's Grace we will keep expanding in faith and good works.​