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The
Congregational Church
2004
First
Congregational Church of
Cuyahoga Falls
This
photograph shows the First
Congregational Church of
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The
church is the oldest in Summit
County to still meet in the
original building. Initially
the congregation met in a
school in approximately the
same location as church was
later built. On December 8,
1833 a meeting was held at the
schoolhouse to consider
forming a Congregational
Church. Those attending
included Reverend Benson
Baldwin, Elisha Sill, Henry
Newberry, Birdsey Booth, Jabez
Hamlin, Ogden Wetmore,
Frederick Upson, and several
women. On February 14, 1834
the group met and founded the
first Congregational Church of
Cuyahoga Falls. Reverend
Baldwin served as the first
pastor. The new church was
dedicated on May 6, 1857. Many
additions have been made,
including installing heating
in 1865 and electric lighting
in 1891.
The Congregational Church was
organized on February 14, 1834
by Reverends B. C. Baldwin of
Middlebury and J. C. Parmelee
of Tallmadge. They opened with
a membership of five men and
five women.
Mr.
Baldwin February 14, 1834
-January 1, 1835
Professor
J. Long of Western Reserve
College took over until
October of 1835.
Professor
Gregg ministered until May of
1836 and then various
ministers took over until
November 23, 1836.
Joel
Byington until May of
1838
Rev
William C. Clark being
installed as the first regular
pastor of the church on
October 24, 1838. His
pastorate continued until
April 5, 1847 when he was
dismissed at his request on
account of failing
health.
William
C. Foster until October 12,
1847 at which date he was
installed as pastor serving in
that capacity until May 24,
1849 when he too was dismissed
at his own request.
From
May 24, 1849 S. P. Leeds
officiated as stated supply
until June 23, 1855 until
retiring. The
pulpit was then supplied by
Professors H. B. Hosford and
Henry N. Day of Western
Reserve College and J. L.
Tomlinson until May 2,
1858
Titus S. Clark was ordained as
pastor, his pastorate
continuing until June 1,
1862.
D.
M. Rankin from April 11, 1865
to April 1866
V.
H. Danner assumed the
pastorate on the 26th day of
October 1866, though not
formally installed until
January 3, 1867. Mr. Danner
died suddenly on March 25,
1889 from the effects of
exposure at the inauguration
of President Harrison.
The
pulpit was then taken over by
Charles E. Hitchcock.
The meetings
of the Congregational Society
were held for about one year
in the school house and
afterwards in the Lyceum
building, near the site of the
present brick edifice, on the
south side of Broad street,
between Front and Second,
which was finished and
dedicated in the spring of
1847 but was greatly enlarged
and improved in 1870.
Membership
in
October
1891
was 193
Information
gathered and used from:
Akron and
Summit County by Samuel Lane,
Cuyahoga Falls
Historical Society |
