Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse
The Raisin Valley Friends Meetinghouse is a historic church located at 3552 North Adrian Highway (M-52) in Adrian Charter Township about two miles (3.2 km) north of the city of Adrian in central Lenawee County, Michigan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 28, 1982, and later designated as a Michigan Historic Site on January 23, 1992. It houses the oldest Quaker congregation in Michigan, which was established in 1831. It is also recognized as the second oldest continuously operating church building in the state of Michigan after the Mission Church in Mackinac Island, which was built in 1829. History In 1831, Quaker missionaries travelling to Michigan established two congregations. One of these, initially known as Adrian meeting, evolved into the Raisin Valley Friends. Raisin Valley Friends initially worshipped in a log cabin located near the present church property, but by 1834 the congregation had grown large enough that a permanent meeting place was called for. Local settler David Baker made a six-acre parcel available, and the congregation raised $800 (~$ in ) to build this church, which opened in 1835. The church, which had an abolitionism stance, is recognized as having served as a