The Church of the Messiah began as a mission of Christ Church in 1874. Its current building was originally Saint Paul Episcopal Church, located at Congress and Shelby Streets. In 1901, the building was disassembled and reassembled, including its beautiful stained-glass windows, at Lafayette and East Grand Boulevard to serve the Messiah parish. Unfortunately, the bell tower steeple was not rebuilt. William Buck Stratton supervised the relocation in 1901.

The gray limestone church features an asymmetrical facade and a corner tower, blending the New England meetinghouse design with Gothic motifs. Its interior, free of columns or galleries, is supported by hammer beam trusses. Additions include a finely carved wood altarpiece with round sculptures and a Pewabic tile floor in the chancel.

The adjacent church house was designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, built 1922-23 and dedicated on Dec. 16, 1923. The cornerstone was placed on Nov. 23, 1922.