Church History Page
PRECEDING PASTORS WHO SERVED AT MESSIAH
Messiah's Grace Note History Page
MESSIAH'S HISTORY
Our Beginning
Our congregation came into being as a result of an action taken by the 1894 Convention of the Young Peoples Society for Christian Endeavor which called for the establishment of an English Lutheran Church in the City of Cleveland. The Reverend George Albert Getty, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sent to Cleveland to establish the congregation. He arrived on June 6, 1894 and the congregation was chartered on September 6, 1894. The congregation was named the Christian Endeavor Memorial Lutheran Church in honor of its sponsor.
The first meeting of the congregation was held on September 19, 1894 in the old YMCA building which stood on the corner of Prospect Avenue and Erie Street (now East 9th). The charter members were present and a constitution was adopted. They voted to send greetings to the Christian Endeavor Headquarters in Baltimore. An organization meeting was held immediately following and Joseph Ockert was elected Secretary and Charles Goss, Treasurer. The YMCA was only a temporary meeting place and the pastor was authorized to seek more satisfactory quarters for the new congregation. He rented a room in the YMCA building at East 16th and Walnut Avenue and it was here, on November 4, 1894 that our Sunday School was started with a membership of fourteen. The treasurer reported a balance of $31.26 as Christmas drew near and it was voted to Dr. A. H. Smith, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Ashland, Ohio caused rejoicing in the new congregation by presenting them with Hymnals as a Christmas gift.
A Change in Name
Articles of Incorporation were filed and it must have been felt that the name Christian Endeavor Memorial Lutheran Church was not sufficiently descriptive because the new official name chosen was Christian Endeavor Memorial English Lutheran Church. As the year of 1895 progressed, there was little growth and only seven new members were received. Dissatisfied, disheartened and discouraged Pastor Getty tendered his resignation on June sixth. The congregation refused to accept it, offering him a six week vacation with promises of better support in enlisting new members. The promised support failed to materialize and the pastor left on August first.
Growing Pains
Three months passed with no new pastor. Interest lagged and it became impossible to
obtain a quorum for Council Meetings. It required three to secure the necessary quorum for a Congregational Meeting. The Reverend Jacob S. Simon was called from the mission field in California and he arrived on November 4, 1895. The congregation had by then become so discouraged, that his most vigorous efforts could not produce a quorum until in February of 1896. The new pastor saw need for immediate efforts to secure a new location. He pointed out that this new congregation was meeting in the midst of a whole group of established congregations. A building called “The Wigwam” located at East 65the and Lexington Avenue was rented on April thirteenth. It had long been associated with local political activities. Just two weeks later, a vacant store-room at East 69th and Cedar Avenue was discovered and rented. It was very obviously, still the temporary home of the struggling congregation. Just at this time, the now completely disillusioned Pastor Getty wrote to the congregation stating that he was making them a present of the $16.50 still due on his salary. Pastor Simon recognized that the location and surroundings were not conducive to growth. He appealed to the Home Mission Board of the Church for funds needed to construct a chapel. He received no encouragement. During the natural let-down which he felt following this, he received a call to go elsewhere which he accepted. He preached his last sermon on April 11, 1897 and left three days later. Several pastors were called to preach trial sermons before the congregation called the pleasant and sociable Reverend Paul W. Koller of Baltimore, whose father was a prominent member of the Board of Home Missions of the national church. He concurred in the thinking of Pastor Simon that what the congregation needed was a home of its own. Several possible sites were considered before one at the corner of Cedar and Brenton (East 73rd) was selected. This time, an appeal for funds resulted in an allocation of $2,500 from the Board of Home Missions. No time was lost and the cornerstone was laid on November 27, 1898, and the formal dedication service took place in February of 1899.
First Choir
The first choir organization came into being. The council faced the problem of finding
a satisfactory organist for the first time. Many motions on how much salary were made. It was finally decided to fill the position and pay the organist one dollar a week. In those days organs had to be pumped and it was most difficult to secure a boy who was a dependable pumper. In the interest of securing more dependable pumping, it was decided that for the Easter and Christmas seasons the monthly salary would be raised from one dollar a month to one dollar and a half. Pastor Koller was diligent in the discharge of his pastoral duties and the records show that he averaged over one hundred calls a month. In spite of his efforts, the growth was not encouraging and it was reported to council that many members were delinquent in the payment of their pledges. The women of the congregation formed the Ladies Mite Society to raise funds for the many needs of the new chapel.
Pastor Koller, who was to later become president of the Ohio Synod, received a call from Hudson, New York, which he accepted and asked that his resignation be effective on November 1, 1899.
Many candidates preached trial sermons in the months that followed before the Reverend William B. Lahr of Williamsport, Pennsylvania accepted a call and arrived to take up his ministry on March 1, 1900. His reputation fro strong missionary efforts began in the seminary. He immediately started to increase the membership. Reverend Lahr organized the first confirmation class which had twenty-nine members. The west side members decided to organize a new congregation and sent a call to the Reverend Lahr. He accepted the call on March 1, 1902, he became the first pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church, now located on Triskett Road near Lorain Avenue.
The thirty-five members of the congregation met and unanimously voted to extend a call to the Reverend Henry C. Hadley of Ohio City. He came to the first council meeting dressed in a colored vest and bearing a fine cane as he had expected the council of a church in a large city like Cleveland to be attired in full dress. It is said that he was considerably let down to discover the big city church to be a congregation of middle class people. He insisted they must liquidate their debts at the first meeting. His “Mile of Pennies” plan was adopted and under the guidance of the pastor all debts were paid and a reserve fund of $1,300 created. The congregation assumed their full share of the pastor’s $1,200 a year salary. Up until then half had been carried by the mission board.
The Reverend Hadley was a diligent worker and directed financial matters well. He promoted and brought into being many of the organizations usually found in Lutheran congregations of that period. Reverend Hadley received a call and left October 1, 1912. There were 350 members and he had received 296.
Two months later, the Reverend Rufus A. Halverstadt arrived. He served the congregation three years in which there were difficulties. The membership drifted away and no new members were received. The financial reserves built up under Pastor Hadley melted away and two appeals had to be sent to the Board of Missions for aid. His pastorate ended October 31st, 1915.
The Reverend Frederick L. Will was extended a call and he arrived from a pastorate at Christ Lutheran Church of Wilmerding, Pennsylvania on March 12, 1916. The congregation had almost vanished. He had a reputation as an orator and a spell-binder. The congregation’s cohesiveness had been lost and all financial reserves had been dissipated. This was a period of lax stewardship and up until he resigned and left on March 31, 1917, only fifteen new members had united with the congregation.
The Reverend Russell B. McGiffin accepted a call and arrived on June 15, 1917 to undertake the task of rebuilding the congregation. It was apparent that the church located at Cedar and East 73rd was no longer desirable and it was sold to the Play House for $7,200. While the site committee was searching for a new location, the congregation met in the Parkwood Congregational Church. The location finally recommended was at the junction of Berleley and DeSota Avenues in Cleveland Heights. There was only one house on the land to the east. The land was purchased and a chapel erected at the point of the property at a cost of $1,600.00. During the construction period, the services were held in the Cleveland Heights Masonic Temple. At this time, the pastor resigned to become a chaplain. No new members were received during the strained and trying years of the First World War. The congregation depended upon supply pastors assigned by the Synod of Ohio to fill the pulpit each Sunday.
One of these was the Reverend Clarence A. Portz of Berlin Center. He had served many as a supply and had become well liked. He was extended a call which he accepted and began serving the congregation on the first Sunday in May of 1919. The congregation felt that the name Christian Endeavor Memorial English Lutheran Church was a handicap and voted to change it to Messiah English Lutheran Church.
First Parsonage Owned by Congregation
A parsonage was purchased for $3,700.00 and the congregation began to grow once more and fifty-one new members were received. The health of the pastor failed and he felt it best to accept a call to Edgeworth Lutheran Church in Wheeling. He presented the congregation with an outdoor bulletin board before concluding his pastorate on February 1, 1923.
New Shepherds for the Flock
The Reverend W. D. Sharritt of New London, Wisconsin was called by the Ohio Synod to serve as field missionary for the Eastern Conference in March 1923. He was assigned to Messiah. He immediately realized that this advantageous location held great possibilities. An architect was engaged and his renders called for a complete church group. Great emphasis was placed on the need for a gymnasium at the time and, thus it was, that the decision was made to construct the parish hall first. The congregation raised about $6,000 and a grant of $5,000 was made by the Home Mission Board of the Ohio Synod. The ULCA Board of Home Missions matched the grant of the Ohio Synod’s Board and with the finances arranged; ground was broken on January 6, 1924. The new $46,000.00 structure was dedicated on July 13, 1924, with the Reverend Paul W. Koller, D.D., President of the Ohio Synod, the Reverend W. M. Hackenberg, D.D., the Missionary Superintendent of the Ohio Synod, and the Reverend J. F. Siebert, D.D., the Divisional Secretary of the ULCA Board of Home Missions present.
The Reverend W. D. Sharritt was called as the regular pastor and was duly installed on August 17, 1923 by Dr. Paul W. Koller, President of the Ohio Synod. Pastor Sharritt resigned on May 1, 1925 and later retired from the active ministry. The congregation was without a pastor until November 21, 1926, at which time a call to the Reverend George F. Weissling of Tipton, Iowa was accepted. Pastor Weissling worked to create awareness in the congregation of its real mission. A gradual increase in
membership took place as the pastor placed new importance on worship in the life of the parish and in Christian living. Progress was made in arranging for the retirement of indebtedness.
A Merger and Dissolution
Calvary Lutheran Church, a sister congregation, decided that its location held little promise for further expansion and growth. Messiah had an excellent location with great promise of immediate growth, but was struggling with heavy debt for the size of the congregation. Interest in a possible merger of the two congregations developed. Each congregation appointed a merger committee to develop plans for a merger. Both pastors agreed to resign in order to allow the new merged congregation to call a new pastor. The merger plans were ratified on July 8, 1928, creating the Messiah-Calvary Congregation located in the new Messiah building with services being held there. Pastor Weissling resigned his pastorate on April 30, 1929 as agreed. The merger was not found compatible and dissolution was affected on November 11, 1929.
A New Corporation and New Determination
The Messiah portion of the separated congregation consisting of 141 members voted to
incorporate as Messiah English Lutheran Church on November 30, 1929 and this was officially recorded in Columbus, Ohio by the Secretary of State on December 5, 1929.
The Reverend Joseph A. Sittler, Jr. was called to serve the congregation on March 2,
1930 and he assumed full duties in May of that year. He may not have been fully aware of the magnitude of the task before him, but he correctly diagnosed the needs of the congregation and set about filling them. New members were gradually added as he sought to renew faith, restore unity and Christian purpose as he ministered to his congregation. Child baptisms increased, catechetical instruction was given to adults and confirmation classes were held with regularity.
The world-wide depression of the thirties posed a new challenge when reduced income and mortgage payments caused acute financial stringency and brought about the threat of foreclosure. Pastor and congregation responded in faith and courage and raised $3.500 which permitted refinancing of the loan and resumption of payments. Steady financial progress permitted the liquidation of a third mortgage and voluntary gifts from members of Christmas and Easter allowed regular reduction of the second mortgage and the congregation became debt-free in 1942.
During this period church organizations flourished and became vital in the life of the congregation. The Women’s Association and the Missionary Society were active. A group of young couples and friends banded together to form the Vergers and their craftsmanship transformed the church inside and out. Throughout his ministry, Pastor Sittler emphasized the traditional liturgy of the church and the place of music in worship, while carefully teaching and developing a deeper understanding of the world and the meaning of the example created by endeavoring to lead a Christian life.
On May 11, 1943, slightly more than thirteen years after he began his ministry at Messiah, Pastor Sittler announced that he had received a call to take the chair in Systematic Theology at the Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary at Maywood, Illinois. He had indicated that this was something he very much wanted to do, and the congregation most reluctantly accepted his resignation to be effective on August 2, 1943.
The congregation on October third unanimously voted to extend a call to the Reverend Claudius E. Jensen, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalamazoo and President of the Michigan Synod. Pastor Jensen accepted the call and began his ministry at Messiah on the sixteenth of November, 1943. The congregation had faced a wartime housing shortage and had finally purchased a parsonage at 3330 Hyde Park Avenue for Pastor Jensen and he was able to move into it immediately. The parsonage was almost completely paid for at the time and within a year the congregation was debt-free and supporting the benevolence programs of the church.
During the years of World War II the congregation operated a canteen in the parish hall on Saturday night for the young people of the congregation and community. Square dancing, ping-pong, bowling parties and coasting parties had popular appeal and acceptance.
The membership of the congregation seemed to have struck a plateau and incoming new members were just matching the number of members lost through transfer and other causes. An active Evangelism Committee was formed and its members called upon potential new members wherever they learned about them.
During the course of the Convention of the United Lutheran Church, held in Cleveland, Ohio in 1946, several members of pulpit committees visited Messiah.
Pastor Jensen announced that he had received a call from Ascension Lutheran Church in Snyder, New York. He asked that his resignation be accepted and that the effective date be January 31, 1947.
A call was extended to the Reverend Oliver A. Rajala, Pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church of Cicero, Indiana on March 30, 1947. He assumed his duties on May 1, 1947. Pastor Rajala emphasized the importance of Witness, Worship, Education and Fellowship in the life of the congregation. He was concerned about the fact that the congregation had seemed to have struck a plateau in membership. He encouraged the program of improvement and beautification which included carpeting the draperies. The name was officially changed to Messiah Lutheran Church in 1949. A membership analysis showed that the concentration of residence for our members had shifted eastward and that it seemed to be continuing. Interest in relocation was stimulated by an offer to buy our property by the Ansche Galacia Orthodox Jewish Congregation.
To Lyndhurst
A relocation Committee was appointed to seek a new building site and to bring recommendations to the congregation. Two very desirable adjoining lots were secured which comprise the Mayfield Road Property and they contained slightly less than two acres of land. The one hundred and ninety feet of frontage seemed adequate. The property at Berkeley and DeSota in Cleveland Heights was sold and the last service was held on August 4, 1952. Plans to sell the old church property and plans to build a new church were being made at the same time. The original Relocation Committee became the Building Committee. Architects were engaged, plans were approved, bids secured and a general contract was let. Arrangements were made to hold services in the Lyndhurst Park Pavilion during the period of time required to build the church. The building Fund Campaign was authorized and the committee appointed to raise the money necessary to build the new church. The response was generous and the congregation celebrated Ground Breaking on New Year’s Day in 1953 and the Cornerstone Laying in a snow-storm on Palm Sunday, March 29th. It was difficult to function under such temporary arrangements, but it became fun and the committees, associations and groups really grew to enjoy meeting around in member’s homes. The congregation was united as never before. After every service and during the week, the members watched and took pictures of the construction. The Service of Dedication was eagerly awaited, because the congregation had never, in its fifty-nine year history, worshiped in a sanctuary designed to be just that. The Season of Dedication was to run from December 20, 1953, Dedication Day, through January 10, 1954.
On December 20, 1953 the congregation assembled and the Processional formed and the Service of Dedication in the new home for Messiah took place. The President of the Synod of Ohio, The Reverend George W. Miley, D.D., preached the Sermon and a former pastor, The Reverend Joseph A. Sittler, Jr., D.D., preached at the Dedication. Services were held December 24, 25, 27 in 1953 and on January 1, 3, 10 in 1954. After fifty-nine years of struggle, Messiah Congregation was finally located in a complete church facility.
Post-Dedication Days
The dedication season for Messiah Lutheran Church of Lyndhurst had run from December twentieth of 1953 to January tenth of 1954. It had been a truly joyous time since it had been a long awaited event. Following the dedication, the congregation and the building committee faced the task of seeing the new church edifice through to completion. The rest of the pews were installed and the final clean-up work of the sub-contractors took place.
The council established a priority schedule for completing work which had not been originally contracted for. It was decided to complete the pastor’s study, the sacristy, the church school rooms and to install finished flooring throughout. The expanded library was to be fully equipped with new shelving. The educational program for Messiah’s young people received preferred attention. The first parish education committee was authorized and formed. The first meeting was held on the 31st of March in the post-dedication months. The church school rooms were equipped with tables, chairs and chalk boards. The church school grew and so did the congregation.
The congregation celebrated its Sixtieth Anniversary with a special worship service followed by an afternoon program attended by officials and civic representatives on the third Sunday in September in 1954. Perimeter lighting was installed along the east side of the church and flood lights were mounted in the parking lot to safeguard our members and neighbors who used our drive. The financial program was carefully planned and at the close of 1954, the total outstanding debt on a quarter of a million dollars worth of property was reduced to about $51,000.00.
Expansion of Program and Services to the Community
The concern of the congregation for people in unusual need was demonstrated by the creation of the Sustaining Committee which administered an emergency fund. The new home of Messiah with its fine facilities, gave the congregation opportunities to serve the church and her institutions more widely. It became customary for Messiah to act as host congregation for visiting Lutheran college choirs, district meetings and church auxiliaries. The congregation participated wholeheartedly in the Lutheran Evangelism Mission in the fall of 1956.
The pastor continues to live at the old parsonage at 3330 Hyde Park Avenue for the first few years following the dedication of the new church. This was sold in 1958 and the congregation purchased a new parsonage on Clearview Road in Lyndhurst. All of the property of Messiah was located in the heart of the area served.
The Lutheran Church in America adopted a new Hymnal and it was recommended that all congregations use the new settings as soon as possible. Pastor Rajala led in securing the new Hymnals for the congregation and the new forms were observed. Messiah assisted in the support of such church related organizations as the Lutheran Children’s Aid Society, the Lutheran Service Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland Lutheran Hospital, and the Council of Churches of Greater Cleveland. Pastor Rajala announced to the Council of Messiah in the fall of 1959 that he wished to tender his resignation as pastor in order to accept a call to St. Jacob Church of Miamisburg, Ohio, effective October fourth. The council accepted his resignation. A farewell tea was held for the pastor and his family and he was presented with a purse.
Growth, Expansion and Stabilization
The council appointed a pulpit committee which recommended the calling of the Reverend J. David Mumford of Grace Lutheran Church of Wadsworth, Ohio. The Reverend Mumford accepted the call and began serving Messiah in the middle of June in 1960. The congregation and church school grew at an even more rapid rate. It became apparent that the church school wing, that had been contemplated for some future time when the church was built, must become a reality if we were to properly serve our children. A committee was appointed to study the need for a new educational wing. The committee recommended the wing. The firm of Ruth, Huddle, White and Howe of Cleveland was engaged to prepare preliminary drawing in January of 1964. A construction contract was let to the Ferris Construction Company in October and ground was broken that same month. The new educational wing was occupied for the first time on July 4, 1965 and dedication services were held on September 19th.
The pastor had called attention to the needs of the church-at-large in the mission field to the council and to the congregation. As a result, the congregation began to support a missionary in the South American Field. Alerted to community needs by the pastor, Messiah has responded in providing class rooms for handicapped children, meeting places for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and the elderly in the area. This was in addition to entertaining auxiliaries of the church and visiting college choirs as had now been customary.
Pastor Mumford suffered a heart attach in February of 1966 and providentially recovered to a remarkable degree in the months that followed. For the first time in Messiah’s history, two men were ordained who were from the congregation, in 1967. They were Mr. Arthur Raske and Mr. David Mumford. There is some question as to how much credit is due Messiah for David, as he is the son of the pastor.
Pastor Robert W. Hilty, was an assistant pastor 1970 until 1973. In addition to his leadership, he also blessed us with his special artistic talent.
It was time again to look for a new pastor. This time however, a search was not necessary. Pastor Mumford’s son, David Mumford (by this time, also a Pastor), remembered Pastor Robert L. Cline from years before back in Buffalo, New York. Pastor Robert Cline had settled in Millersburg, Ohio as Pastor of a church, with his wife, Mary Lou and three kids. When approached about coming to Messiah Lutheran Church, the Cline family liked the opportunities a big city would offer in raising a family. Pastor and Mrs. Robert Cline were invited to attend a council meeting, where they were then accepted by a vote. Pastor Cline offered leadership, while Mrs. Cline and their kids offered a musical and theatrical talent to the church. Pastor Cline remained our Pastor until his retirement in 1994.
During this period, a special strength was also brought to the youth of Messiah Lutheran Church under the direction of Dave Phoenix. Dave was head of Christian Education from 1982 to 1993. When Dave left, he finished his seminary schooling and is now a full time Pastor.
In 1994, it was again time to start the process of searching for a new Pastor. A survey was sent out to the congregation asking specifics about the direction they would like to see the church go and what programs should be given top priority. The results were then sent to Synod. Synod compiled a detailed demographic profile and evaluated all of the information. The calling committee received three Pastors for consideration. All three were interviewed, rated and discussed by the committee. Pastor Daniel W. Mohr and his wife Carol (also a Pastor) were flown in from Sun City, Arizona for a second interview. The next step was to introduce Pastor Mohr to the congregation. As it is against Synod’s rules for the Pastor being considered to give a sermon to the congregation, tapes were made of Pastor Mohr’s sermons and passed out to any members interested in listening at home. Since the congregation, not the calling committee makes the final decision on whether an offer should be made; the Mohr’s were also invited to a reception with the congregation present. A concern of the congregation was why the Mohr’s would want to move to this area from beautiful Arizona. Their two sons were grown and on there own. Pastor Daniel Mohr was originally from Toledo and his wife Pastor Carol Mohr was originally from Dayton. The Mohr’s were anxious to return back to Ohio in order to be closer to remaining family. In 1995, about one year after beginning the process, the congregation issued a call for Pastor Daniel Mohr. The Mohr’s accepted the call, however in different churches in separate cities. Because of their strong commitment to God, they were able to spend only limited time together, due to the distance between the two churches.
Pastor Carol Mohr passed away in 1999, having lived a life dedicated to God and helping many in need through other areas of her life. In 2003, Pastor Mohr, due to his strong commitment to family and God, felt the need for a change. He desired to live closer to his elderly mother as well as a sister in poor health, both of whom live in the Toledo area. As a result, he accepted the call to lead two inner-city churches in desperate need of leadership. This is where he remains today.
A special acknowledgement also goes out to Mr. Ralph Reichenbach. Ralph and his wife Nancy were the superintendents of Messiah from 1986, until Ralph lost his battle with Cancer in 2005.
Today
Our congregation, once again was in need of new leadership. We went through the same process as above. A survey was submitted to Synod which was evaluated based upon their research. After interviews were complete, a call was issued for Pastor Thomas C. Fox. Pastor Fox, his wife Diana and three daughters had been living and serving a Church in Marshallville, Ohio. Having lived in a small town, they liked the opportunities a big city offered in raising a family. The process took about nine months, but in the fall of 2004, the Fox family relocated and settled in South Euclid.