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Main Street (also known as Huron Street)
East end of the village
Historic Mission Church is a Michigan registered Historic Site.
Application
Historic Mission Church Wedding Application PDF
Mail completed applications and fee to:
Scott Witsman
Mackinac State Historic Parks
Box 873, Mackinaw City, MI 49701
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Fee
$1,000 for a maximum time of two hours.
The fee includes:
- Up to two hours of the same day for decorating, rehearsal, wedding ceremony, pictures, and clean-up.
- Services of a Mackinac State Historic Parks representative
Reservations
Church fees are subject to change in 2010.
Reservations should be made as soon as possible. They are made on a first come/first paid basis.
- Payment is required with application to hold the date.
- Reserve your date with Scott Witsman before sending the application and payment by contacting him at 231-436-4100.
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Schedule
Weddings may be scheduled at Historic Mission Church between:
May 4 - June 11, 2010; and August 22 - October 10, 2010
Wedding may begin between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
June 12 - August 21, 2010
Weddings may begin between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily.
* From June 12 - August 21, the church is also open to the public between 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please keep in mind that visitors are allowed inside during this time frame, even with a scheduled wedding.
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Clergy
Historic Mission Church has no resident or affiliated clergyman. You must make arrangements with clergy on your own. If you don’t have a minister in mind already, view this clergy list.
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Rehearsal Requests
We will attempt to accommodate rehearsal requests on days prior to your wedding day based on the following:
Spring and Fall Rehearsal
Must be scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for a period of no longer than one hour. MSHP reserves the right to reschedule or cancel rehearsal if weddings are scheduled for that day.
June 12 through August 21 Rehearsal
Can be scheduled between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. for a period no longer than one hour. Please keep in mind the church is open for visitors from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and your rehearsal must work around our guests.
Contact Scott Witsman to arrange your rehearsal.
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Guidelines
1. Historic Mission Church is Michigan's oldest standing church building and a Michigan state historic site, and so has been carefully restored to its original appearance. Maintaining the condition of this treasured building is very important.
2. Historic Mission Church is no longer an active church. This museum building is operated for the public by Mackinac State Historic Parks. It is open for public viewing from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. between June 12 - August 21. If you’d like to view the interior prior to your wedding and can not visit it between these public hours, contact Scott Witsman for an appointment.
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Looking at the back of the church. |
3. The church is a historic structure, not currently accessible to people with disabilities. Please consider this limitation carefully when making your plans.
4. The church is available by pre-arrangement for wedding ceremonies. Reservations should be made through Mackinac State Historic Parks by filling out the application provided through the link above. You can also obtain an application by contacting Scott Witsman.
5. If floral arrangements are part of your wedding decor, flowers may arrive no earlier than 45 minutes prior to ceremony time. If you have scheduled musicians, soloist and/or an organist they are to arrive no earlier than 45 minutes prior to ceremony time. If you are working with a wedding planner, be sure they are aware of this time frame.
6. It is the responsibility of the wedding party to designate an individual to remove flowers, wedding decorations, and other items immediately following the ceremony. Otherwise the items will be removed and discarded by park staff one hour after the wedding. We are unable to store any items at Historic Mission Church before or after the ceremony.
Church Information
- Maximum seating is 160 people.
- A unity candle is permitted.
- There is no dressing room at the church. The restroom is very small and should be considered emergency use only.
- There are five electrical outlets.
- There are no lights in the church.
- The antique organ is part of the MSHP historical object collection and under no circumstances can be played.
- A keyboard organ is provided. The organ is located in the balcony area.
- No pew bows. No tape or tacks of any type may be used to install decorations.
- No alcoholic beverages are permitted.
- The church bell may be rung.
- Historic Mission Church is not heated or air conditioned.
- No rice, birdseed, or similar material may be scattered inside or outside the church.
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History
Historic Mission Church represents the first Protestant work among the Native Americans at Mackinac and is the oldest surviving church building in Michigan. Local Evangelical Protestants built the New England style Mission Church during 1829-1830. The church was lead by Revered William Ferry and his wife Amanda, who were missionaries with the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission. Fur traders Robert Stuart, Henry Schoolcraft, and their wives, as well as soldiers and colorfully clad Native Americans, shared the fiery sermons of the Reverend William Ferry, best known of the early ministers.
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When the fur trade declined, the church was sold and later used for political meetings, theatrical plays, and for a few years in the mid-1870s for Catholic services while Ste. Anne's was built. The Mackinac Island State Park Commission acquired the church in 1968 and conducted considerable restoration in the mid-1980s. In recent years, thanks to the generosity of John and Penny Bar, there has been extensive restoration to the church, including the church basement.
Contact
Scott Witsman
Mackinac State Historic Parks
Group Tour and Special Events Coordinator
(231) 436-4100
Box 873, Mackinaw City, MI 49701
witsmans@michigan.gov
Learn more about Historic Mission Church, which is part of the Mackinac Island Historic Downtown Buildings.
