About Us

Pleasant Valley MI. is not a sprawling metropolis or a village for that matter. It’s not a town or a suburb of anything. Pleasant Valley MI. is well... more than all of those things. It’s a place where generations of men and women have shared a common history of God, family and farming. In the midst of it all is the Pleasant Valley Free Methodist Church. The church building started out as a school house in the early 20th century and as with most school houses in those days it was also the the place where people came together to worship God. Now, over one hundred years later and generations of people coming and going, PVFM Church is still the center of all that makes this place special.

PVFM Church with it’s outreach ministry of Jesus Christ that has grown from a small local church in a valley, into a thriving community of believers from all over the country. PVFM Church has ministries as close as the house next door and as far away as China, with mission outreaches in Haiti and other places around the world. Now, PVFM Church is not a convenient place to go to church by any means, it’s five miles from the closest town or village, and yet people come from all over to call this church home. So, what is it that makes this place so special you ask? Well... God’s here. His presence here is evidenced in both His people and in the fruit of their individual ministries. No, we’re not the church next door, or the church down the block. PVFM Church is “The Church in the Valley” to most people around here and trust me, it’s well worth the drive.

Our Heritage

The Pleasant Valley Free Methodist Church began by local pastors holding meetings in the Marsh School, (two miles west of the present location), which later became known as the Burns School. The pastors in the early part of the century were called “Circuit Pastors” and served more than one church or community, with Pastor Henry being the first serving East Jordan, Boyne City and Central Lake. The church was closed at times, due to lack of pastors, and the congregation would have to attend services at a church in Central Lake.

Pleasant Valley Free Methodist Church held it’s first meetings in the Marsh School, (constructed in 1905 by a preacher named Dan Henry, and later called the Burns School).

The present sanctuary of the Pleasant Valley Free Methodist Church was dedicated September 18, 1960. This is a copy of the invitation.

Following World War I Rev. Ellis Mellott began holding services at Pleasant Valley and they continue to this day. In 1909 the school was purchased and donated to the Society. The building was remodeled and dedicated in 1955. On Sunday morning, December 14, 1958, the building was completely destroyed by fire. The present sanctuary was built and dedicated in September of 1960. In 1980 the fellowship hall, along with major remodeling in the back portion of the church, was done. The kitchen was added in 1989. The sanctuary was remodeled, adding a new pulpit and pews, in 1998. The new classroom was added on in 2004.

The Marsh School was the first location of the Pleasant Valley Free Methodist Church. It was completely destroyed by fire on December 14, 1958.

During World War I the Methodist Episcopal Church held a couple of revivals, and renewed worship services in the Pleasant Valley Church, (Marsh School). After the war, in 1928(29), Ellis Mellott began holding services there, again, for the Free Methodists. In 1929 the Ranney School disappeared from the appointments, and Glen Cornet, a local preacher, was appointed to supply Central Lake. That year he began preaching at Pleasant Valley as well. For the next eighteen years, until 1967, Pastor Cornet served the Central Lake and Pleasant Valley circuit. In 1935, when Glen Cornet was serving, an official Free Methodist Society was organized with six charter members: Ed Clark, Minerva Clark, Ina Willson, Clara Willson, Ilo Russell and Nettie Ferree.
Around 1950 the school building was purchased by friends in the community and donated to the society. The building was beautifully remodeled inside under the labors of Rev. Charles Dickinson, and dedicated in June of 1955. On Sunday Morning, December 14, 1958, the furnace overheated and the building was destroyed by fire. The present building was built with the help, encouragement, support and donated labor of the community, under the supervision of Derward Willson. It was dedicated in memory of Clara Willson in September of 1960.

Construction on the addition was done in 1980