In 1881, the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Iron Mountain was built at the corner of Second and Chapin streets. The church was built by the Chapin Mining Company but was likely financed by funds held back from miners’ pay. The structure became, as a City Council resolution in 2001 stated, “the oldest religious building in Iron Mountain.” In other words, it was Iron Mountain’s “first church.”

In 1885 the ground under Chapin Pit began to sink. So in 1887 the building was moved two blocks north to its present site at the corner of Fourth and Chapin streets.

With the Cornish miners being the primary members of the congregation, Cornish traditions took hold, and even to this day, Cornish heritage can be found in the church’s activities. The church’s Cornish tea, which recently transformed into the Cornish Market, has served the area for over 60 years with such Cornish treats as scalded cream on apple pie, seedy buns, saffron buns, currant cookies, and hot potato cake. Lately, mini pasties, a staple of Cornish miner’s meals, were added.

In 1968, the United Methodist Church was created to become a major Protestant denomination from the union of the Methodist Church, and the Evangelical United Brethren Church. Shortly after this formation, First Methodist Church of Iron Mountain officially became First United Methodist Church of Iron Mountain.

Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo

In May 2022, due to theological differences on several issues, conservative Methodists formed a new denomination called the Global Methodist Church. The church voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church and join the Global Methodist Church. That process was completed and as of July 1, 2023, the name of First Global Methodist Church of Iron Mountain was adopted.