A Brief History
Northwest Gospel Hall was started by some Grand Rapids brethren in the early 1920s. They first met in Fred Sharphorn’s wood turning shop on White Street on the city’s West side in a former horse barn. In March 1922, there were eight that met together, some of whom had recently been baptized in the Grand River. In time they moved from the wood shop to a little hall at 1007 Leonard Street, and called their new location Evangel Hall. A big factor of growth was due to the labors and devotion of the Pell family. They started a publishing business known as Gospel Folio Press where several of the Christians worked. They produced gospel tracts, Sunday school papers, teacher’s manuals, a magazine and the Choice Gleanings calendar. The Pell brothers were known for their teaching and preaching ministry as well as cottage meetings and their gospel tent which they pitched in several places through the years. Several years later in 1957, having outgrown this location on Leonard Street, they moved to the present site at 1350 Garfield.
Northwest Gospel Hall is associated with a group of independent local churches known historically as Plymouth Brethren.