First Christian Church of Medina, Ohio

First Christian Church Local Historical Highlights

We are Rooted in Heritage, Growing in Faith, and Branching into Ministry.

Our congregational history begins with a connection to the history of Medina and Medina County. The county was part of the Connecticut Western Reserve, which in 1787 set aside over 3,000,000 acres of Northeastern Ohio for settlement. Connecticut sold its ownership to a land company, one of whose owners was Elijah Boardman. He sent Rufus Ferris to Medina in 1816 to act as his land sale agent. Rufus built a cabin/land office just north of the square in Medina. Settlers quickly followed bringing with them their New England attitudes toward hard work, the value of education, and the importance of independent thinking. This early heritage created fertile ground for the Disciple movement in Medina County in the late 1800’s.

In 1877, Rev. Thomas Garvin was called to do a tent revival in Medina. He was invited by Disciples who lived in the townships around Medina and some Medina residents to help start a new Disciple church in the village. The population of Medina at that time was approximately 1400. In one month, Rev. Garvin baptized over 50 people, most in Rocky River by the old covered bridge near Weymouth, the rest at the foot of town hill in Champion Creek. From these new converts, the first congregation of the Church of Christ (Disciples) of Medina was formed. It was the sixth church established in Medina.

The church was formed on November 13, 1877. Meetings were held in the Court House while the building fund grew. A lot on S. Broadway was purchased for $500 in 1879 and construction of the congregation’s first building began. The church was completed at a cost of $3,500 and dedicated in 1880.

A series of good ministers followed. One of note is Rev. Lathrop Cooley. Reverend Cooley’s family was well off and he was known for his generosity. In 1892, he donated the funds for a marble fountain to be built on Medina’s Public Square. That columned fountain remains there to this day on the west side of the square.

Like all congregations, we had our disagreements. One of the most serious came in 1907 when 60 members and their families left the church. Most were younger families who found the strict governance of the church leaders of the time too intolerant of new ideas. The remaining members learned their lesson and a new spirit of acceptance of others became evident as a part of the congregation. That spirit has grown and exists to this day at First Christian.

Church growth caused planning for a new building to begin in 1922. Members of the community as well as congregation members contributed to the fund. The original building was torn down in 1923. The church’s second sanctuary was dedicated on March 9, 1924. It was completed at a cost of $43,000. The rest of that decade was one of general well being. However, the Great Depression and World War II followed this happy time. During both events, the members of the congregation help each other and those in the community as best they could. Boy Scout Troop 507 was chartered in 1932. During the world war, 73 members of the church served in the military, including two women.

The decade after the war was one of growth and prosperity. However, in the mid-1950’s, another crisis faced the congregation. A small group, mostly Elders, forced the resignation of a popular minister. The congregation responded, in traditional American fashion, by adopting a constitution that guaranteed future major church decisions would be by and with the full knowledge of the entire membership. Since its adoption in 1957 and its subsequent revisions, the church’s constitution has stood as a procedural guide in times of stress and as an assurance that all members have a voice in their church’s future.

Also in 1957, the church officially changed its name to the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Medina, Ohio. This was done in response to a denomination-wide change in the church name. A year later, the congregation dedicated a major addition to the 1924 building. This educational wing served the congregation well for the next 44 years. This was true even during times of great growth. In 1965, for example, 57 new members were welcomed into the faith. This may not seem as surprising when it is recalled that Medina’s growth had risen by 92% from 1950 to 1965, a period which also saw the village become a city.

In 1970, the congregation voted to make a major change in how members were accepted. Until this change, members had to have been baptized by immersion in water. With the congregation’s approval, “open membership” became the norm. Letter of transfer, regardless of baptismal standards, welcomed members from other churches. Immersion is still practiced and available in the sanctuary baptismal. Many members at the time saw the change as further movement toward a congregation that was welcoming and accepting to all.

In the late 1970’s, the members began a renewed focus on the congregation’s future mission to the community. A Study and Plans Committee was formed to evaluate our programs, mission, and our physical structure. A survey conducted by the committee suggested that congregation members were nearly evenly divided on the question of renovating the 1924 building or constructing a new facility.

After much open discussion and years of preparation, the congregation voted to fund a renovation of the church building. A service of rededication on September 20, 1987, marked the completion of that project. However, the planning and discussion process the congregation experienced led to, for many, a new awakening to the purpose of our building and the mission of our congregation.

The congregation responded with many expressions of community outreach and service. Among these were the housing of Project:MUNCH to feed the hungry, the resettlement of Southeast Asian refugee families, the support of Operation:HOMES to assist the homeless, the hosting of a service of recognition for county veterans of World War II, and the coordination of a massive county-wide effort to aid the victims of the great mid-western floods of 1993.

During this period the congregation also began to seriously consider its long-term future. The explosive population growth in the Medina area prompted concerns about the future availability and affordability of new land the congregation might desire. In response, the Official Board created a Property Search Committee in 1995 to seek out and recommend the acquisition of land for a new church location.

In October of 1996, the Property Search Committee recommended the congregation purchase nearly 18 acres on the corner of Routes 3 and 162. While land a half-mile north was selling for $80,000 per acre, the recommended property was offered at a total of $165,000, or just over $9,200 per acre. In its report, the committee stated its belief that, “Circumstances, or perhaps a Greater Hand, have brought together both the means and opportunity to purchase.” With a nod to practicality and a strong sense of the leading of the Holy Spirit, the congregation approved the purchase on October 27, 1996.

Since that historic decision, events have occurred which have strengthened the belief of many members that the Hand of Providence has indeed led us to our new church home.

The congregation welcomed a new pastor who strongly believed a major part of her call was to help the congregation construct a new church. Under Rev. Teresa’s leadership, a Faithful Planning Process gave renewed focus and direction to the mission of the congregation.  The congregation embraced challenging goals and welcomed an infusion of vibrant energy from new families and individuals joining our congregation. Long-time members enthusiastically accepted new ideas and new leadership.

After much prayer, discussion and planning, the congregation voted to sell its former church building to the Medina County Performing Arts Foundation. MCPAF agreed to share the building with the church for over two years while design work and construction created our new church home. Input was sought and offered by the entire congregation that allowed the architect and the Design Committee to plan a structure that would be usable, efficient, affordable, and spiritual.

When the time came to ask for funding for the new building, the response of our congregation was phenomenal. Told by funding experts we could perhaps raise $225,000 but setting a goal of $400,000 anyway, the people of First Christian responded with a total pledge that exceeded $520,000, most of which has been collected. Plans and construction moved forward with the hope that we would celebrate Christmas, 2002, in our new sanctuary.

When it became clear that the building would not be ready for Christmas, a wonderful invitation of community hospitality was offered our congregation. The members of the congregation of the Medina United Church of Christ Congregational welcomed our congregation into their home for the first three months of 2003 while our new church was completed. This gift was truly a blessing for us in a time of need.

On April 6, 2003, the congregation celebrated its first full service of worship in its new home on Sharon Copley Road. A community Open House was held on May 3^rd and many members of the community took the time to stop by, see the building, and offer their good wishes. A formal service of building dedication was held on Sunday, May 4^th with many members, families, local clergy, and other dignitaries attending.

As we embrace our new church home in this our 126^th year of existence, we acknowledge the debt we owe to those whose past efforts have given us the deep roots of our heritage. We acknowledge also the leading and witness of God’s presence which has nurtured our growing faith. And we pray that as we reside in this holy space, we may rededicate ourselves to the mission of branching into new ministries of service to Christ’s Kingdom.

Roger Smalley, Church Historian

Last modified: 10/10/06

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