Jurisdiction:  Berrien Township

 

Established:   1843

 

Location:  Corner of Pucker and Chapel Hill Road

 

Cemetery Governing Body:  Berrien Township

 

Located on the grounds of Morris Chapel Cemetery is the Morris Chapel Church.  The church is listed as a historic site by the state of Michigan.  In 1843, a deed was given to the local Methodist society for a church and cemetery.  Steven Curtis gave money for this but he put an odd stipulation on his gift though; no musical instruments were to ever be played in the church.  Violation of this would cause the property to revert back to the Curtis heirs.  It is not clear how long this was abided by since music had been played in the church since around 1900.

 

The church built in 1867 and was the second of the local Methodist Episcopal society founded in 1840.  The Church was named in honor of Bishop Thomas Morris, then head of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Michigan and is the oldest church in Berrien Township.

 

 Written By David Barricklow