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.
The church is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
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.
The church is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
