Summit County, Ohio - Chapter 13: Religious Development, 1908

Akron has sixty-two churches within its corporation limits. This demonstrates that the city is not wholly given to manufacturing, leisure and society. Akron is a typical American city and believes that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Therefore, its citizens are provided with large and modern theaters and a beautiful music hall. A strong religious influence also permeates Akron's life. The same desire for culture which has brought such great success in educational lines, has manifested itself in the various religious societies of the city. There has been a sound and healthy rivalry among them to provide splendid meeting places for worship for their various congregations. As a result Akron today enjoys superior advantag&s for the church-goer.

The oldest church organization in Akron today is the First Presbyterian Church. It was organized December 15, 1831, by Rev. B. C. Baldwin and Rev. John Hughes with twentysix members. They occupied the old brick church on Kent Street for any years, until 1906, when they completed the beautiful modem church building on East Market Street near Buchtel Avenue.

In 1834 the Congregational Church was organized by J. W. Pettit. In 1885 a small frame church was built where the Court House stands now. Rev. James B. Walker was its first permanent pastor. In June, 1843, the society built a large church on the comer of North Main and Federal Streets. During the pa.*torate of Rev. Carlos Smith, the brick church on South High Street was built. The society has now, in the year 1907, purchased a site on the corner of East Market and Union Streets, and will build a fine church at that point during the next year. Rev. Thomas E. Monroe became pastor of this church April 1, 1873, and continued as its active pastor until 1901. He is now Pastor Emeritus.

In 1830 a Methodist congregation was organized by Rev. John Janes, and meetings were held in the school house at the corner of South Broadway and Buchtel Avenue. In 1836 a church was built at the corner of South Broadway and Church Streets. In 1871 the fine brick church at the comer of South Broadway and Church Streets was completed. The Sunday-school rooms were planned by Lewis Miller and gave rise to the "Akron Plan" of arranging Sunday-school rooms.

On October 19, 1834, a Baptist congregation was organized in the school house, on the corner of South Broadway and Buchtel Avenue. The moderator of the meeting was Caleb Green. Amasa Clark acted as scribe.

The Universalist was one of the early religious organizations in Akron, and held meetings here as early as 1835. In 1837 Rev. Freeman Loring organized a chiirch, and meetings were held at the corner of Main and State Streets. A church was built on North High Street a few years later. It was built of stone and was one of the finest stmc-, tures in the State at that time.

The Disciples congregation was organized in 1839, although meetings had been held as early as 1830. The society was organized by Elders Bently and Bosworth.

In 1842 the German Evangelical Protestant Congregation was organized. It is the parent of the German Lutheran Church and the German Reformed.

The German Lntlieran society w^as formed in August, 1854, by Rev. P. J. Buehl. Its church on the corner of South High and Quarry Streets was erected in 1837.

Trinity Lutheran Church was organized in 1870, and its fine church on Prospect Street was erected in 1872. In October, 1882, the Rev. Excell organized the United Brethren Church on the corner of High and James Streets.

As early as 1835 services of the Roman Catholic Church were held in Akron, various priests coming from neighboring parishes for that purpose. In 1843 a church was built on Green Street. On March 17, 1864, the present stone church on the corner of West Market and Maple Streets was begun. Rev. M. A. Scanlon was pa«tor of St. Vincent de Paul's Church from .June, 1859, to December, 1873. Rev. T. F. Mahar became pastor August 1, 1880, and has continued until the present time. St. Mary's congregation was established in 1887. and a church was erected on South Main Street, opposite McCoy Street. In 1861 St. Bernard's Catholic Church was organized. The first pastor was Rev. Father Loure. In 1866 Rev. John B. Broun took charge of the church, and he has continued as its pa.stor until the pr&sent time. In 1903 a magnificent Church on South Broadway and Center - the finest in the city - was completed.

In 1865 the Akron Hebrew congregation was organized, and services were held in the first story of the Allen's block on South Howard Street. They were afterwards held in the first story of the Barber Block. In 1885 the congregation purchased the Episcopal church on South High Street and has occupied it since as a temple of worship.

These were the parent congregations of the city. As the city grew rapidly in all directions, and some of the city congregations were located in many cases two or four miles from the city churches, various branches were established.