Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Chapter 54: The Congregational Churches, 1870

Chapter 54: The Congregational Churches

THis church was organized December 21, 1834, in pursuance of a resolution adopted at a meeting held on the 18th of the same month. Rev. John Keep was chosen moderator, and thirty-eight names were taken of persons disposed to unite with the new church. Of these, six are still members, viz: Mrs. Ursula M. Taylor, Miss Catharine Taylor (Mrs. Luffkin), Mrs.

Jane McGuire, Miss Esther Taft (Mrs. Robinson), Miss C. H. Buxton (Mrs. 8. H. Sheldon) and Miss M. A. Buxton (Mrs. Skinner). While adopting the Presbyterian name and form, the Congregational principle of annual election was distinctly recognized by the church.

A temporary house of worship was erected and dedicuted May 3, 1835. The sume day Rey. John Keep commenced his pastoral Jabors. On January 7, 1836, he was dismissed, and on November 9, following, Rev. J. D. Pickands took charge, and remained until April, 1839. Meanwhile, in February, 1838, a portion of the chureh (forty-four in number) withdrew, by letter, to organize a Congregational church. In the summer of 1841 a reunion of the two churches was effected on a Congregational-Presbyterian basis, the eldership being dispensed with and a committee substituted, and the church continuing its connection with the presbytery.

Prior to this reunion, Rev. H. A. Read was chosen stated supply, in June, 1839, and served the church until October 4, 1840. On the 17th of the same month, Rev. William P. Russell became the minister, closing his labors in April, 1841. With the reunion commenced the pastoral labors of Rey. S. B. Canfield, who came with the Congregational church, of which he had been pastor. His ministry closed in the fall of 1844. Le was succeeded in September by Rev. C. L. Watson, whose pastorate lasted till September, 1848.

The church, having ceased from 1848 to send delegates to the presbytery, stood unassociated till October 18, 1857, when it voted to send a delegate to the Cleveland Congregational Conference.

In December, 1848, Prof. J. A. Thome, of Oberlin began his labors as pastor, although he was not installed till February 27, 1856. Under his leadership, and prior to the last date mentioned, the society built the edifice now occupied on the corner of Detroit and State streets. It was dedicated August 14, 1851. His labors ceased in July, 1871. Since 1857 the society has changed itsnamed to 'the First Congregational Church of Cleveland." In April, 1872, Rev. 8. H. Lee, previously of Greenfield, Massachusetts, entered upon the duties of pastor. He was installed June 9, 1872. He accepted another call, and was dismissed, September 24, 1878. The church numbers three hundred and forty-seven members. The deacons of the church are J. B. Palmer, S. H. Sheldon, W. H. Newton, H. J. Brooks, C. T, Rogers and T. S. Newton.

Euclid Avenue Congregational Church

This church was organized November 30, 1843, by Rey. Dr. 8. C. Aiken and Rev. 8. C. Cady. Nineteen persons constituted the society, viz: Cyrus Ford, Clarissa Ford, Horace Ford, Horatio C. Ford, Sam-

The articles of faith and covenant of the First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland were adopted, and the infant church was christened the '' First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland." Cyrus Ford, Jarvis F. Hanks, and Samuel W. Baldwin were elected elders.

During the winter of 1843 and the succeeding summer, when a preacher could not be secured, Bible services were held Sabbath mornings in what was known as the "old stone school house," situated in a back lot between Republic and Doan streets, near Euclid. In the autumn of 1844 the Methodist Church was secured, where Bible services with occasional preaching were held for several months. During the summer of 1845 Rev. Benjamin Gage frequently supplied the pulpit on Sabbath afternoons. In the autumn of 1845 Rev, A. McReynolds - employed by the Cleveland presbytery as county missionary - was given charge of the church, with which he continued to Jabor for nearly three years. About this time the society occupied the school-room in the old ''Railroad Hotel," corner of Republic and Euclid streets. In the summer of 1846 the foundation was laid of the "little brick church," still standing on the corner of Doan and Euclid streets. On September 20, 1849, the church was dedicated, the building costing but three thousand dollars.

In 1852, on account of the attitude of the Presbyterian Church toward the institution of slavery, this church withdrew from the presbytery and became an independent Presbyterian church, remaining such for a few years, until it united with the '' Congregational Conference of Ohio." On entering the 'little brick church " there was a large increase in the Sabbath congregations, and also in church membership, and in 1865 the church edifice was found too small for the accommodation of the worshippers. After free discussion a resolution was unanimously passed to build again.

At this time Dr. W. 8. Streator generously donated the lot on the corner of Logan and Euclid streets, and contributed three thousand dollars toward the erection of a new church edifice. Subscriptions were raised, and the building of the new house began in the spring of 1866; it was completed and dedicated January 8, 1868. In 1872 the small chapel in rear of the main building was torn down, and a large and beautiful chapel erected, which was dedicated June 8, 1873.

Again the audience room of the church was found too small, and in 1874, by the liberality of Justus L. Cozad, it was enlarged, aud the sittings increased to nearly eleven hundred. The membership of the church at its organization, 1843, was nineteen; in 1846, forty-nine; in 1855, sixty-one; in 1870, one hundred and eighty-four; in 1875, four hundred and

The City Of Cleveland Plymouth Congregational Church

This church was organized March 25, 1850, with thirty members, and adopted the name of the Third Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, standing independent of other ecclesiastical organizations. A majority of the members preferring the Congregational order of worship and government, in August, 1852, its ecclesiastical polity was changed, and the church became '' Congregational," adopting the name of "The Plymouth Church of Cleveland."

The place of worship occupied by the church for three years from its organization, was the building on Wood street, known as the Tabernacle, or Round Church. During the summer of 1853 the church moved into the edifice erected on the corner of Euclid and Erie streets, which was subsequently sold to the First Baptist Society of Cleveland, and vacated in the spring of 1855. For two years thereafter the Wesleyan Chapel, on Euclid street near the Park, was occupied as a placeof worship. 'In January, 1857, the society purchased the building on Prospect street, known as the Prospect Street Church, which was enlarged, remodeled, and in November, 1857, dedicated to the worship of God. Here the society worshiped for fifteen years. Its last meeting in this church was July 28, 1872, after which, the Prospect Street Church having been sold to the Homeopathic Medical College, the society repaired, and until the erection of Plymouth Chapel occupied, the school house, corner of Prospect and Perry streets. The first and dedicatory service in Plymouth Chapel took place April 26, 1874.

In November, 1854, the Rev. James C. White accepted an invitation to supply the pulpit. He received an unaninious call in the January following to become pastor, and was installed in August, 1855. He resigned September 23, 1861. _ The successor of Mr. White was the Rev. Samuel Wolcott, D.D., who was installed February 5, 1862, and who, after a faithful pastorate of twelve years, was dismissed by council February 17, 1874.

The church at present numbers three hundred and thirty members. It has a prosperous mission chapel (Olivet) on Hill street, corner Commercial. In its two Sunday schools it has an average attendance of nearly five hundred children. The present officers of the church and congregation are S. H. Cowell, J. G. W. Cowles, A. F. Holmes and L. M. Pitkin, deacons; S. P. Churehill, A. C. Kendel, R. N. Williams and the pastor and deacons, ex-officio examining committee; Asahel Strong, clerk; 8. H. Stilson, treasurer; George Hall, A. C. Kendel, J. G. W. Cowles, H. A. Tuttle and B. 8. Cogswell, trustees; S. P. Churchill, superintendent Sunday-school; L. P. Hurlburd, superintendent Olivet Sunday-school; E. 8. Abell, sexton.

Centennial Welsh Congregational Church

This church had its inception in a series of prayermeet ngs held at the house of William HK. Jones, at Newburg, as early as the year 1858. Prominent among the originators of these meetings and the subsequent growth and organization as a church society were David I., John, Thomas D., George M., Evan and William E. Jones and Morgan Harris, and their families.

During this year the church was organized under the temporary ministerial service of Rev. D. Davies, of Portage county, Ohio, assisted by Rev. Richard Richards and George M. Jones, of Newburg. The original number of communicants was about twenty. Thomas D. and William E. Jones were elected deacons.

The first church edifice, a framed building twenty by thirty feet, was built on Wales street in 1859, and in 1861, on account of rapid increase in the church, was enlarged to twice its original dimensions. In 1862 the Calvinistic Methodist members of the church withdrew, and organized a separate church on Cannon street. Again, in 1863, the Baptist members also established a church on Wire street, and separated themselves from the mother society. These losses at the time considerably weakened the church, but the vacancy was soon filled, and it has now a membership of about one hundred and sixty.

In 1876 a large and beautiful brick edifice was erected on Jones avenue at an expense of sixteen thousand dollars. As this was built during the hundredth year of American independence it was dedicated as the ''Centennial" Welsh Congregational Church.

was organized by a regularly called council on the 13th day of November, 1859. It was originally intended that the church should be independent or undenominational. Accordingly the council was composed of pastors and delegates from three denominations, viz.: The First and Plymouth Congregational, Second Presbyterian and St. Clair street (now First) M. E., churches, while the pastor was a Wesleyan Methodist. It was soon found, however, that the church liad: unconsciously adopted some of the leading principles of Congregationalism, and therefore, in 1862, application was made to, and the church was received and recognized by, the Cleveland Congregational Conference. This step placed it in full accord with that branch of the church militant. The regular services of the church were held for two years in a school house on University Hights, and for four years following in what was then known as the Cleveland Institute. In 1866 the church removed into a house of worship erected (of brick) on the corner of Jennings avenue and Howard street. This building cost nearly sixteen thousand dollars. In 1877 this building was enlarged and remodeled at a further expense, including furnishing, of over twenty thousand dollars. The edifice is now pleasant and commodions, cruciform in shape, and has a seating capacity of five hundred and fifty. Since organization, with an original membership of thirty-four, the church has had upon its roll the names of four hundred and twentysix communicants, of which death and dismissals leave 2 membership of two hundred and forty-seven.

The first officers of the church and society were elected November 15, 1859, as follows: Of the church - Rev. Wm. H. Brewster, pastor; John G. Jennings 'and Eliphalet C. Parks, deacons; Norman S. Harrington, James Gayton, Ranson F. Humiston and Brewster Pelton, standing committee; Wm. A. Baker, treasurer; John G. Jennings, clerk. Of the society - Josiah G. Graham, president; E. C. Parks, vice president; W. W. Wright, R. F. Humiston, James Gayton, B. Pelton, F. Judson, trustees; F. Judson, treasurer; W. A. Baker, auditor; John G. Jennings, clerk.

Mt. Zion Congregational Church

was organized on Sunday, September 11, 1864, by a council called for the purpose at Plymouth Congregational Church. The early organization consisted of nineteen members. Mt. Zion was the first Congregational church organized among colored people in the West.

The first meetings were held from house to house; afterward in Richards' Hall. Finally, in the spring of 1865, a lot was bought on Erie street, near Webster, and the erection of a house of worship was commenced. After a long attempt to pay for the building, they were compelled to dispose of it by sale in 1872, and purchased with the proceeds the present building and lot on Maple street, near Garden. The size of the lot is fifty feet by one hundred and seven; that of the building, forty feet by sixty. This church has had three regular pastors: {Rev. J. H. Muse, installed December 3, 1864; Rev. C. E. Ruddick, in September, 1875; Rev. A. J. DeHart, in January, 1878.

The church is now in a prosperous conditon, and numbers about one hundred and fifty-seven communicants. The Sunday school numbers one hundred and seven scholars. The following are the present officials: Rev. A. J. De Hart, pastor; Samuel Sutton, Gad Worthington, Stephen Wright, Andrew Tolbert, deacons; S. L. Freeman, J. R. Warren, William McCoy, trustees; Mason Brown, clerk; David Rayner, treasurer.

The Welsh Congregational Church

was organized on the 9th day of October, 1870, at Bethel Hall, with twenty-two members. 'The clergymen officiating in the services were Rev. D. Davis, (Dewi Emlyn) Rey. O. N. Pond, A. M., of Oberlin, Mr. Isaac Hughes, student, of the same place. The following persons were duly elected and installéd in their different offices: Rev. John M. Evans, pastor; Joshua Enoch and John D. Edwards, deacons; Price H. Jacob, secretary; John Thomas, treasurer.

In 1872 the society moved from Bethel to a hall in the Atwater Block, with twenty-cight members and twenty families. At this time Elias Thomas was installed as deacon. On the removal of John D. Eadwards to another city, Kinery Griffiths was chosen secretary and Elias Thomas elected treasurer.

In the year 1873 the society moved to Temperance Hall with about thirty-two members. In February, 1878, Temperance Hall was vacated and the meetings were and still are held in a dwelling on the West Side.

The Mission Chapel, on Harbor strect, was organized in the year 1873. It was completed and dedicated in May, 1874, under the auspices of the First Congregational Church, and named '' The Dare Memorial Church," in honor of the lady who gave the land on which the edifice was built. The cost of the building was five thousand dollars. Rev. 8. B. Shipman was called to take charge of the mission and continued about two years. This mission is now under the charge of, and to a great extent supported by, the First Congregational Church Society. The First Church also provides a pastor for the mission.

Madison Avenue Congregational Church

The present house of worship of this society was built mainly by members of the Euclid Avenue Congregational Church, and used as a mission chapel until July, 1875, when the church was regularly organized with twenty-two members. Rev. O. D. Fisher was called to the pastorate, which position he still retains. The church edifice is built of wood, thirtyfive by sixty-eight feet in size, and is,situated on the corner of Hast Madison ayenue and Quincey street. The first church officers were J. B. Taylor, 8. Biddle, 8. Beckwith; deacons; Mrs. M. A. Loomis, clerk. First officers of the society: S. Beckwith, J. B. Taylor, J. Anderson, trustees; 8. Biddle, treasurer; J. Elliott, clerk. The present church and society officers are Rey. O. D. Fisher, pastor; S. Biddle, S. Beckwith, It. Mylchrist, deacons; J. Anderson, 8. Biddle, B. P. Boner, trustees; R. N. Cain, treasurer; Mrs. M. A. Loomis, clerk.

Tite Franklin Avenue Congregational Church

'was organized November 21, 1876. Its chapel, situated on the corner of Franklin avenue and Waverly strect, had been used for several years before as a mission Sabbath school of the First Congregational Church. Fourteen members of that church joined with sixteen others for the purpose of organizing the new church, making thirty original members. Rey. S. B. Shipman, who had labored with the mission for a few months, was employed as pastor.

The present number of members is seventy; number in the Sabbath school, two hundred and fifty. 'The present officials are Rev. S. B. Shipman, pastor; 1. Holt and J. Burlison, deacons; J. Overholt, clerk; J. Carlisle, treasurer; L. L. Haskins, superintendent of the Sabbath school.