Greensky Hill Indian United Methodist Church is located east of Charlevoix, Michigan at the junction of U.S. 31 and CR 630. On March 16th 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[1] The church has been preserved with all of the original woodwork and can only seat about 50 people.
The church was founded by Peter Greensky, a Chippewa chief who had been converted to Christianity and became a preacher. He decided to build a Protestant mission where he could preach and convert his Native American brothers and sisters to Christianity. According to the historical marker at the church, the first services were held in makeshift buildings of bark and boughs until the 1850s, when a church was constructed from lumber brought by canoe from Traverse City and then ported two miles to the site of the present day church. Around the church was a circle of "council trees" where the Indian chiefs could meet in peace to discuss tribal issues.
The original church is still used by a racially mixed congregation that celebrates both Christianity and Native American customs. In regular attendance are Peter Greensky's descendents: his great-great-grandson, Ray Greensky and Ray's son Brayden Greensky and daughter Isabelle Jean Greensky.[2]