The First Congregational Chirch of Royal Oak was founded in 1842 under the leadership of the Rev. Ebenezer McDowell. Upon August 13th of that year, was the record says: "Rev Ebenezer McDowell, George Scougel, Peter Merritt and Levi Tootill, met together for the purpose of forming ourselves into a Congregational Church.

After earnest prayer and consultation, we adopted the following articles," which articles of faith immediately followed this statement. The charter members as given in the orginial history were: Peter Merritt, George Scougel, Levi Tootill and M. H. Hammond, together with Rev. Ebenezer McDowell. The female members were: Ruth Merritt, Olive Tootill, Bestey Scougel, Sarah A. McDowell and Mary E. Hammond. These ten were the nucleus around which this organization originally formed and from this humble beginning has struggled through varying vicissitudes of church life down to the present time.

Never has the thread of its life been entirely snapped, but several times has it trembled in the balance.

The officers named for that first organization were: Rev Ebenezer McDowell, Pastor; Peter Merritt, decon Levi Tootill, Clerk.

It is an intereasting coincidance that one of the founders, Peter Merritt, bore the same surname of our Mr. John A. Merritt, who has the oversight of the building of the present growing structure and also another interesting fact is that the son of the orginial pastor still resides in Royal Oak.

The society met for formation in the Baptist Church and held meetings in the Baptist House until the year 1843, when the record says: "They adopted the following resolutions: That for peace and righteousness asked they leave the Baptist Church and hold meetings in the school house." Later for considerable time meeting were held in the Methodist house alternating with the Methodist brethren until 1867. At a meeting called Oct 1st, 1866 by the active pastor, then James Nall, the society was informed of a "great bargin" to be had for three hundred dollars and which was none other then the house which we so lately occuped. The building was bought, removed to Royal Oak and refitted at the total cost of eighteen hundred dollars; and dedicated August 28th, 1867.
As most of the present company knows, that building has been the place for worship for the Royal Oak Congregational Society from that date until this present summer of 1911, when the site upon which it stood on Main Street was sold to the Business Men's Association for the site upon which the new building is being erected and one thousand dollars in cash, we retaining the old building and which quite largely enters into the new structure. As a visable representative of the orginial society and structure, one of the foundation stones from under the old building has been out and incorporated into the basement wall, with the date of the organization of the society at its inception, 1842.

The stone was taken from the farm of Hiram Ellwood, who with his wife, Phoebe Ellwood, was admitted to membership in February, 1850. We are glad to say at this date, Nov 4th, 1911, that Mrs. Phoebe Ellwood, at the age of eighty-seven, is still one of our loved members and with greatest solicitude we wish that the infirmities of age had not prevented her from being present at the laying of this cornerstone, as still this church is one of the dearest things that holds her affections upon earth after an association with it of sixty-one years.

Another who has long been associated with it, and we are glad to say is still with us, is our loved and trust friend and church clerk, George W. Blackmon, who first entered its membership, Jan 1st, 1858, and has thus been a member with the exceptionof a short absence for didty-three years.

A list of pastors, as given in one of the books of Records Follows:

After an interim of four years, on May 15th, 1892, at a regular called meeting, it was decided to call a meeting for the ordination and installation of Mr Charles Cameron, a pastor who was duly ordained and continued as pastor until Jun, 1893, after which time an interim occurs in the record until Dec 5, 1897, when Rev. Lincoln Ostrander took up the wor and remained until the class of 1890.

Jan 1, 1899, Mr. Joshua Axtell wascalled to preach for "an indefinite time." He remained until January 1900. AfterRev E. C. Oakley followed for a dhort time, then the pulpit was supported and supplied by the rev. E. A. Spence until April 1905. April 15th, 1905, Dr. W. I. St. John began his labors with the church and remained pastor at the time of the laying of this corner stone.

He began his work as a layman pastor, but by the grace of God and of the Detroit Association of Churches was on the 25th of Octobert, 1910, regularly ordained into the Church Ministry.

The present membership of the church is forty-eight (48) members with six applicants for membership by letter:

The present Board of Trustees is composed of: Mr. George W. Balckmon; Mr. S. Lee Pack; Mr. H. L. Mellen; Mr. F. F. Hughes;and Mr. Ransom Patterson

The Board of Deacons is:
Mr. George W. Blackmon, Mr. Lee Pack; Mr. H. L. Mellen; and Mr. W. I. Phillips.

The chairman of the building committee is Mr. Earl McEwan.
Contractor and supervisor of bilding, Mr. J. A. Merritt.
Superintendent of construction, Lester Bernard.
Beyond this, all honor is due the ladies of our society, together with the friends of the society who have and do support so nobly and energetically the work of the building and the general work of the church

Program

Electa Depue Drake joined by letter in 1844 from Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor. Doctor Flemon Drake joined this church in 1854. Their daughter Abigail joined this church in 1850; their daughter Clemma joined this church in 1858. Abby D. Buzzell was dismissed because of her inability to attend service and that she so wished. Clemma D. Smith was given letter and joined the Congregational Church of Grand Blanc She was considered to be a very worthy member of this church; took an active interest in al lits activities, and was elected deaconess for two years.

Source:Vol. 2 of the collections of The Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society, Michigan