by Josephine C. Sheffer
Edited by Rev. Alva W. Taylor

In 1818, the Ohio Conference met in Steubenville, Ohio. At this conference, Mr. Ira Eddy was appointed circuit rider on the Grand River Circuit. The same year, Billings Clark, his wife and her sister Nancy Rigden, came from Massachusetts and settled in Concord. They were Methodists and they invited Mr. Eddy to preach in their home. A year later, Mr. Eddy married Nancy Rigden. In 1819 a member of the Methodist Church in New York state moved to Painesville. She asked Mr. Eddy to preach in Painesville. The meeting was held in a schoolhouse where the Morley Library now stands. History records that the schoolhouse was well filled. At the close of the sermon, Mrs. Bliss spoke with much feeling and Mrs. Clark of Concord closed the meeting with prayer. The people were surprised to hear women speak in a religious meeting. This meeting—held in a schoolhouse—was the beginning of Methodism in Painesville.

In 1820, the Presiding Elder, William Swayze, and Philip Green traveled the Grand River Circuit. In the fall, these two ministers preached a number of times in Painesville and a class was formed. Members were Noah Newland (leader); William Kerr, Anna Beckwith, Ellen Croft, Elizabeth Nanbenthusen, Charity Blodget, Lura Armstrong, Sybil Hayes and others whose names are not known. This new group of Methodists were later refused the use of the schoolhouse. An appeal was made to Samuel Phelps, who had given the land on which the school was built. Mr. Phelps decided that if Methodists were not permitted to use the school, then no other denomination should have the use of it either.

In 1822, this small group of Methodists began to build a meeting house on Liberty Street on the third lot south of the Congregational Church. The floor was laid and the meeting house enclosed, but the building stood unfinished for two or three years as the people did not have enough money to finish it. A proposition was made by the town to furnish the money to finish the building on the condition that town meetings and elections could be held there. The offer was accepted, and the work on the church was completed by the town as economically as possible.

In 1840, when Lake County separated from Geauga County, the county needed a place to hold court. The church was asked to accommodate the county as well as town meetings. This arrangement was agreed upon with the understanding that when Lake County Court House was built, the church would be free from all obligations to the town.

In 1843, the minister, Samuel Gregg, started the project to secure a new church. The old one was sold for a wagon shop and moved to State Street. Many years later it was moved near the old Phelps mansion where it was one of the several buildings used for a carriage factory. In 1844, and unused church in the deserted village of Richmond was purchased for $400. The village of Richmond had been built in 1832 along the Grand River based on the belief that the Beaver Canal would be built using Grand River. When the Cuyahoga route was used instead, Thomas Richmond tore his town apart. This little church was taken apart and moved to the lot on Liberty Street. It was dedicated in the fall of 1844, free from debt. In a year or two under the pastorate of Edwin J. Kinney, a parsonage was moved from Richmond and placed next to the church on Liberty Street. These buildings were used by the church from 1844 to 1875.

An Annual Conference was held in Painesville in 1850 with Bishop James presiding. In 1851 when rain prevented holding a grove meeting as planned, James A. Garfield, later President of the United States, preached in the Methodist Church.

In 1866, a second Annual Conference was held here at which four Bishops were present- Bishops Morris, Ames, Clark and Kingsley. The eloquent Thomas Stockton, a chaplain of the United States Senate, preached one of his last sermons in the Painesville Methodist Church. When he was too feeble to stand, he spoke sitting down from the quaint high pulpit. Bishop Calvin Kingsley preached just before he left this country on a missionary tour from which he never returned. Bishop Matthew Simpson, upon his return from a tour of Palestine, spent two weeks in the home of Rev. and Mrs. William Young and preached and talked to the Sunday School giving the children most vivid pictures of the Holy Land.

The present site of the Painesville United Methodist Church was selected under the pastorate of Rev. J.S. Youmans. The lot was purchased from George Steele for $10,000. This lot is on the north side of the Park next to the home of Renssalaer Gate. The work for the construction of the church was begun in the spring of 1873. The contract for laying the foundation and cutting the stone for the building was let to Messrs. Snyder and Wilhelm of Akron for $8,000. This contract was completed and the corner stone laid with ceremonies held October 15, 1873. It was an ideal October day, and a large congregation of people gathered under the brilliant maple trees. The music was furnished by the church choir, with E. H. Merrill as director. The Rev. D.C. Osborne, the Presiding Elder, made the principal address. Rev. Youmans was the minister and Mr. E.G. Young, superintendent of the Sunday School.

The cornerstone contains the following items:

• Early records of the church and society
• Names of the Presiding Elders of the district, pastors, superintendents of the Sunday School, trustees, etc.
• Names of the various churches in Painesville
• A list of subscribers to the building fund
• Copies of the Bible, Hymn Book, Minutes of the Annual Conference and various other periodicals of the church; and
• Copies of the Painesville Telegraph, and various other documents

The contract for the completion of the church, exclusive of the interior was let to I. J. Lewis of Cleveland for $36,000. The bricks were furnished by DeForest Brooks and were laid by James Shelby, both of Painesville. The work was begun June 1, 1874 and was completed by September of 1874. It was pronounced the finest piece of masonry in Painesville.

The first building committee consisted of Messrs. Eli S. Young, Dan Pike, and D. D. Jennings. When Mr. Jennings resigned, Mr. Samuel Moodey took his place. The committee with the Pastor, Rev. Youmans, visited many churches in Ohio and adjoining states and Canada to find the most desirable plan for the building. Mr. Jacob Snyder was the architect.

The Sunday School rooms and much of the interior followed the plan of the Akron Methodist Episcopal Church, while the front and much of the exterior was modeled after a church in Toronto, Canada. The front of the church was designed with a tower at each corner rising to a height of 97 and 113 feet respectively. These towers were to have been surmounted by two iron spires, but ones that were placed upon the rear of the building were blown down, so that ornamentation was omitted from the towers.

The Sunday School room was carpeted. The chairs came from a chair factory in Concord. There was a superintendent’s desk - into the front of which was set a cross of olive wood from Mt. Olivet, the gift of rev. A. S. Dodds. The organ from the old church was placed in the central class room on the balcony, and a dedication service for the organ was held January 3, 1875. At the service, this financial statement was made: "The structure of the church to date, irrespective of the lot, cost $50,000; of this amount $36,300 has been provided for, leaving an indebtedness of $14,200." Subscriptions were taken. Two persons pledged $1,000 each; thirteen pledged $500 each; fifteen pledged $200 and additional subscriptions of $100, $50,, and $25 were taken until the full amount was reached. So much time had been taken that the dedication of the organ was postponed until evening. The trustees (Eli Young, David Perry, C.C. Field, and Hezekiah Cole) then asked Rev. C. D. Osborne (the Presiding Elder) to conduct the formal dedication.

Revivals were held each year under the pastorate of R. F. Randolph. During the years from 1857 through 1881 it was a financial struggle to complete the furnishing of the Interior of the church. The Circle Room as finished at an expense of $7,000. The Rose Window, consisting of 1,371 pieces of stained glass, was donated by the Young People’s Society at a cost of $300. The window with the emblem of the lamb was given by the Primary Class.

The church was dedicated in June of 1881. The following account was written in the local newspaper:

"Last Sunday was a glad day for the members of the Methodist Church and congregation. The noble church edifice for which they have labored for years, and which has proved such a financial burden to them, we completed and ready for divine worship. Almost as if a magician’s wand had transformed it in a single night, the audience room, which was so long and dreary and disappointing in its barrenness, burst upon the eyes of the people who had gathered within it Saturday afternoon in all the beauty and impressiveness of its proportions and finish. Although the original plan was somewhat modified, the room is singularly beautiful and pleasant to the eye, and thoroughly in keeping with the Sunday School room, which has been so much admired, and with the exterior of the building which for symmetry, grace and strength combined has been rarely equaled. Considering the means at their command, too much praise cannot be given to the building committee for the manner in which they have done their work. As completed, this building is not only a rich temple of worship and an ornament to the town, but a monument of the Christian energy of its builders. Sunday brought three services and crowds of people. The presence of Chaplain C.C. McCabe was fortunate; his sermons, morning and evening, were powerful and inspiring. Aided by the efficient labors of Presiding Elder, Dr. Moses Hill, and neighboring ministers and home workers, and still more by the liberality of those present, Dr. McCabe was able to announce near the close of the evening service the glad fact that the indebtedness was all provided for, and that the church would be dedicated with no financial encumbrance upon it. Considering how largely all had given before, the amount raised during the day was very large. It is not to be wondered at that the closing of the service was the signal for a hearty outburst of praise and good feeling."

The twenty-five years from 1872-1897 were ones of continuous struggle. No large gift ever came from outside the church families, with but one exception. Judge Reuben Hitchcock gladdened the hearts of the building committee, while the foundation was being laid, by giving them a check for $1,000.

In 1881 the Epworth League was formed and one of their first projects was to purchase books for the Library, and a piano for the Sunday School room.

In 1882, the Women’s Home Missionary Society was formed with eight charter members. Much of the money raised for the church was the result of the diligent work of the women of the church. By 1885 there were 30 members in this group.

By 1900, a parsonage on the south side of the Park was purchased for $6,000. Reverend W. B. Winters was its first resident minister (Rev. A. George Whiteman was the last minister to live in this parsonage). The pulpit area and the choir loft were redesigned in 1900 at the cost of $600. The membership at this time was 352 and the average Sunday School attendance was 132.

One of the great innovations started by the Painesville Methodist Church was the Christmas celebration of the White Gift Service, which was started in 1904. The idea was a gift of free will offering called the White Gift – each person was to give a gift of love, instead of receiving. At the suggestion of the minister’s wife, Mrs. Winters, envelopes with donations were pinned to a white ribbon and draped on the Christmas tree. The service was held in the sanctuary with each class marching to the tree and placing their ribbon of envelopes on the tree.

The first Boy Scout troop in Ohio was formed in Painesville Methodist Church by J. E. Lightner.

In 1905, the original carpet was laid at a cost of $700. In 1913, the unfinished basement was excavated and a Social hall, including the stage, kitchen, and serving room, were built. A central heating system replaced several furnaces and an electric lighting system was installed for the cost of $8,000.

In 1920 the church celebrated its 100^th year with a membership of 850 and an average weekly Sunday School attendance of 325. In October, the Centennial was held with a week of services terminating with a visit to the Mother church in Concord on Sunday afternoon. The picture of Ira Eddy was displayed and a Centennial History and Directory was published. There is a stone marker placed on the site of the original church.

By the year 1923 the membership of the church had grown to 1,000 and side balconies were added to provide 250 more seats.

During the early 1930’s there was a period of depression affecting the economy. The church needed redecorating so the members rallied and contributed both labor and materials. They worked whenever they could, even at night and did the job without creating more debt. In 1935 the organ was rebuilt and electrified by Hillgreen Lane Company. Chimes were added with amplification so they could be hear from the towers. The first church bulletin was issued in 1938 under the leadership of Rev. William B. Robinson.

In 1946 the church was redecorated for $8,000.

Handel’s Messiah was presented in our church for the first time in 1947. Hilbert Collins, former director of church music for 20 years, established the tradition and conducted it for 18 years.

In the early 1950’s thought was given to the need for more Sunday School space. In 1953 it was decided to put on a drive for the purpose of erecting the Educational Building on the vacant space to the rear of the church. The drive was successful and in February 1954 a contract was let for the construction of this building. It was completed at a cost of $144,000. This addition was dedicated on September 15, 1957 under the pastorate of Dr. A. George Whiteman.

In 1956 the parsonage property on the Park was sold to make way for the Lake County National Bank Building. A new parsonage was bought at 62 Chatfield Drive. In 1959 another parsonage was purchased on Ardmore Drive for the associate minister.

In 1960 a study was made of needed alterations to the main church building and provision for a connection between the two buildings. As a result, a chapel and a connecting hall to the Education Building were added. The side entrance was rebuilt; the heating system converted to gas and the entire interior redecorated at a total cost of $125,000. These additions took place under the pastorate of Dr. Glen M. Warner.

In 1963 a bell choir was started under the leadership of Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Collins.

In 1968 members of the Hope Ridge Evangelical United Brethren church became concerned about the needs of families receiving welfare assistance from the county. They set up an operation to supply such families with clothes when the Welfare Department indicated a need existed. This was expanded by their invitation to all area churches to join this project and a store was established in property owned by our United Methodist Church. M embers of our congregation as well as others have helped to keep this project going. Money for items needed but not donated is collected so that the clothing needs of 50 to 60 families per month are filled. Today, known as Hope Chest, it continues through the many persons donate used clothing and money.

In 1970 all the districts in Ohio were reviewed and Painesville District was established to include Lake and parts of Ashtabula and Geauga Counties. Dr. Harold E. Ewing was appointed as the first District Superintendent. The same year the organ was redesigned and rebuilt at a cost of $27,000.

A Sesquicentennial service was held at the church on November 1, 1971.. Clarence L. Bowers was chairman of the 150^th year celebration. Bishop Francis S. Kearns and Dr. Glenn M. Warner spoke at the two worship services. At 12:30 a covered dish dinner was held. Former ministers were recognized during the informal program. The committee provided all members a booklet reviewing the church’s past history, and a memorial plate was made available for purchase for those who wished to have a lasting remembrance of the occasion.

In 1972, during the ministry of Rev. Alva W. Taylor, a new gas furnace was installed. The Circle Room and church parlors were re-carpeted and redecorated. The church sanctuary was painted, the Rose Window was covered with a protective cover, and the worship center of the church was enlarged. Bible study and Prayer Groups were started under the leadership of Mrs. Taylor and Personal growth Groups and other adult opportunities for study and fellowship were offered. Mrs. James Slotta the Educational Assistant, worked with the youth and supervised the educational program of the church.

For more than 150 years, the Methodist Church in Painesville has had a vital part in the cultural and spiritual development of our community. A glorious history has been written since Rev. Ira Eddy preached in 1819 to a little group of people in the primitive school house.

MINISTERS WHO HAVE SERVED
THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF PAINESVILLE

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