Church History
A BRIEF
HISTORY OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF AKRON
In 1825, the town of South Akron was
founded.
In 1830, a Methodist Episcopal Society
began to meet in South Akron, with two Sunday School teachers and
nine scholars.
In the Conference year mid 1836-1837, the
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Akron was established. A
40’ x 56’ house of worship was built on the southeast
corner of Broadway and Church Streets facing west.
On March 17, 1841, the church building
was destroyed by fire, probably caused by an overheated stove. The
congregation rebuilt on the same foundation. This facility
was remodeled and expanded in 1860, at a cost of $3500. After
this renovation, the building faced east on Broadway.
In 1866, $30,000 was contributed toward
the erection of a new church building to accommodate the growing
congregation.
In 1867, Lewis Miller, a local inventor
and our Sunday School Superintendent, began to work with local
architect Jacob Snyder to create a new church that would include
a three-story semi-circular Sunday School building with multiple
classrooms opening on a central assembly room. This new
design, dubbed “The Akron Plan” would later be copied
by more than 2000 North American churches. Construction
began in 1867 on ground just to the west of the existing church. The
new Church building was completed in the autumn of 1871, at a
total cost of $128,000. The sanctuary seated 940 people and
contained the largest pipe organ in the state of Ohio at the
time. The church building was dedicated on Jan. 21, 1872,
with $32,000 being pledged that day to clear the debt on the
Church. Mr. Miller would later work with Rev. (later,
Bishop) John Heyl Vincent to establish the Chautauqua Institution
in New York as a location for training teachers in this new style
of Sunday School.
In 1884, German speaking members of the
congregation split off to form the “German Methodist Church.”
They erected a building on the corner of Pearl and Exchange
Streets. They later changed their name to Trinity Methodist Church.
On August 30, 1911, the 1872 church
building was destroyed by a fire that began when workmen were
repairing a gutter. The destruction was so complete that
when the surviving parts of the building were later sold at
auction, they raised $12. The Church received only $49,000
from insurance coverage.
On Nov. 6, 1911, by a vote of 29
“for” and 21 “against”, the church’s
leaders voted to sell the church property to the city as the site
of a new Armory, and to build a new church at 263 East Mill
Street.
Ground was broken on June 30, 1913. The
building was dedicated on October 25, 1914. Total cost of the
project was $153,000, including $21,000 for the purchase of the
lot. The new sanctuary seated 800 people.
Dr. J. B. Rosmurgy led the church in a
program of remodeling and renewal in 1947, helping to overcome a
decline that eventually dropped our attendance to an average of
50. At one point before Dr. Rosemurgy’s arrival, the
Board considered selling the building and moving to a larger
site.
Dr. Marion Harvey served as pastor from
1952 through 1975. The church achieved its largest
membership numbers during his tenure. In 1955 the Trinity Methodist
Church reunited with First Methodist Episcopal, and the proceeds
from the sale of their building went toward the construction of a
new educational wing, named after the old congregation.
Additional land was also purchased during this time to expand our
parking lot, new stained glass windows were installed, and our
radio broadcast program was begun in 1952.
On October 18, 1980, a new Reiger Pipe
Organ is dedicated as a replacement for the organ installed in
1914.
In 1984, a major renovation of the church
facility begins under the leadership of Rev. Douglas Denton at an
estimated cost of $637,200.
On February 19, 1994, Rev. D. Lynn Snider
is appointed as pastor.
On April 29, 1994, the 1914 church
building is destroyed by fire, caused by an electrical short in
the area below the Sanctuary floor. The Trinity Education Building
is saved from the fire. Services were held on May 1 at Central
Hower High School, broadcast live over WAKR. A Study
Committee is elected to consider our future options.
On July 10, 1994 by unanimous voice vote
the congregation accepts the Study Committee report suggesting
that we rebuild on the present site. A Building Committee
and Organ Committee are also elected.
On Dec. 28, 1994, at a Charge Conference
held at Church of the Master, the congregation accepts a
recommendation that Braun and Steidl, Architects Inc., be hired
as our Architects. On Jan. 28, 1995, Welty Building
Corporation is chosen as our Construction Manager.
On February 15, 1995, an insurance check
for the building loss in the amount of $4,459,061.00 is received.
With additional funds from the contents loss, the final
insurance settlement is $5,286,520. The Building Finance
Committee prepares a financial campaign to begin after Easter,
under the direction of George Ball and the Rev. Dr. Nick Carter,
asking for pledges to be paid out over five years, with a goal of
raising an additional $975,000 from our congregation and local
foundations.
On July 23, 1995, a motion to rebuild the
church according to Braun and Steidl’s design is passed by a
vote of 160 in favor and one against. A motion to purchase
additional property at 53 College Street is approved by a vote of
145 for and 16 against. Three months later the motion is
amended to include only the purchase of a garage at 53 College
Street, saving over $200,000.
In late September of 1995, contracts are
signed with the Lynn Dobson Organ Company of Lake City, Iowa for
our new pipe organ. Final cost is $456,851.
At the end of January 1996, our offices
are moved from the Trinity Education Building to rented space at
the First Congregational Church of Akron. The Trinity Building
is demolished the next week.
On Sunday, March 24, 1996, by a vote of
130 in favor and none opposed, final approval is given to rebuild
the church as designed at an estimated construction cost of
$5,114,537 with long-term borrowing not to exceed $300,000.
On March 31, 1996, (Palm Sunday) ground
is broken for the new building.
On May 11, 1997, the last worship service
is held in Central Hower High School.
On May 18, 1997, our first worship
service is held in our new church building, with 509 persons in
attendance. Final cost of the entire project is $7,168,895.
Total indebtedness is $512,000, with over half being
covered from the balance of the 1995 five-year pledge. The
building project is completed on budget and two weeks ahead of
schedule.
On September 7, 1997, the Church is
consecrated and the pipe organ is dedicated.
On August 1, 2000, the five-year pledge
campaign is ended and a balance of $236,347.24 is rolled over
into a twenty-year mortgage
On April 16, 2006, the mortgage is paid
off.
PREPARED FOR
THE SERVICE OF DEDICATION AND MORTGAGE
BURNING
MAY 21, 2006