POKAGON — In the early and mid-1800s, before the railways were laid, the community of Pokagon outranked its neighbor Niles in population.

Now, Pokagon is a small assemblage of homes butted up against a highway in a township of cornfields and fruit farms.

Towering over the homes is a white church that stood as Pokagon’s houses became a small cluster amidst an industrial evolution.

Like its grand presence, the Old Rugged Cross Church stands grand in the history of Pokagon Township and U.S. Christendom. It was the first place where the famous hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” was publicly sung.

Molly Shaffer and her husband, Bob, have captured that history in 488 pages, from its beginnings as a hops barn to its designation as National Historic Landmark, a museum and a place for pan-denominational worship. Their book, “The Old Rugged Cross Lives On” was released independently in July.

The book tells the tale of the church, its renovation, “The Old Rugged Cross” and the hymn’s composer, George Bennard.

It has been a book 12 years in the making, complementing the 21 years the couple have helped Old Rugged Cross Church’s foundation renovate the 157-year-old building to its 1913 state, when the hymn was first sung as part of a three-week revival.

“Going through this for 21 years together has strengthened our faith, I would say,” Molly Shaffer said. “God is faithful. When he wants something done, he’s going to find a way to have it happen. To be able to be part of that, it’s just unimaginable for me.”

Shaffer’s roots run deep with the “Old Rugged Cross.” She remembers singing it as a girl.

“I would stand there with my eyes closed just singing my heart out,” she said.

Then, in 1984, Bob was offered a chance to be the Old Rugged Cross Church’s historian. That, his wife said, helped them catch the history bug.

They purchased the property and began working to restore the church to its 1913 state. The church began as a hops barn in 1864, was converted into a church a few years later and then was converted into a barn again. Time took its toll.

The Shaffers and other area leaders created a foundation and began renovating it.

Now, what once contained hops now hosts people for faith services, marriages, funerals, tours and public hymn singing.

What once contained a church kitchen and community center now contains the only museum in Pokagon Township.

Much of the Old Rugged Cross Church’s renovation has been captured in the Shaffers’ book, but the renovations are still ongoing. The foundation is preparing its final phase: adding traditional foundation to the church to hide its more modern concrete support.

The renovation is partially told through pictures. That would not have happened if the couple did not print independently, Shaffer said. Book publishers wanted to limit the number of photos to 20.

“The pictures tell the story in a way that words cannot,” she said.

The book was funded entirely by the Shaffers. Only after 500 books are sold can they begin giving proceeds to the foundation.

The book costs $80, but Shaffer is not worried about buyers being frightened by its price. She said hundreds of people have helped with the project, whether through volunteering, attending events or donating financially. Each took something meaningful away from the experience, she said.

It was the people who attended and helped with the church that encouraged the Shaffers to write the book.

“We would give tours to people and tell them some of the stories,” Shaffer said. “People would say, ‘Well, I hope you’re writing this down.’ I thought ‘Well, someday, when I get the time, I’ll do that.’”

She did.

Shaffer said that people of all Christian denominations have donated. Some people have been across the country and across the globe.

“The whole thing has been very ecumenical,” she said, referring to the expanse of Christian faiths. “We’ve had — oh my gosh — I can’t begin to name all the denominations that have raised the money and helped us along the way.”

The pan-denominational appeal of Old Rugged Cross Church stems from its hymn and is reflected in its programming today.

The foundation occasionally hosts ecumenical church services and hymn singings.

Just as she does when singing hymns, Shaffer feels a spiritual connection between the church and its purpose and the church and her work.

“When you’re doing something for God, it’s just a totally different experience,” she said.

Shaffer said there are a number of ways to purchase the book. Checks can be mailed to 33053 Crystal Springs St. in Dowagiac. Buyers can call her at (269) 362-4347, email her at orfc@aol.com or message her through Old Rugged Cross Church’s Facebook page.

The church’s website, the-oldruggedcross.org/, will soon have an option to accept credit cards, she said.