SUTCH A HISTORY: The First 100 Years 
at First Church, Willoughby

Isabel Sutch died on November 30, 1996. A Memorial Service was held on December 2, 1996. We will always remember our beloved Isabel Sutch. Thank you, God, for Izzy!

DEDICATION

This history of the First Presbyterian Church of Willoughby is dedicated to those pioneer spirits who came before us and paved the way for the church as it is today, active in serving others and a warm Christian home.

PREFACE

I decided to accept the task of writing our church's history because a complete history had never been done before . This writing deals with the church's beginnings, interwoven with early history of the Western Reserve as it applies to emphasize the events of the times. The history was compiled by a lay person, not a seasoned historian, so there may be a slight difference in some dates. One interesting highlight led to another and I hope that the reader will find this essay as interesting and informative as it was in compiling the facts.

I have tried to show the character and faith of this church's membership over the years. I never could have finished this writing successfully without the editing help of Dr. Bach and his computer, where the history will remain, saved electronically for future use. Today's past history is fascinating, but as we look forward to tomorrow, our present activities will be the history of the future. Perhaps in years to come, another church historian will take on the same task which has captured my time and energy lo these many months.

Faithfully,

Isabel M. Sutch, Historian of the Church December 8, 1987

THE HISTORY FROM 1833 THROUGH 1938: THE EARLY YEARS

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WILLOUGHBY

Two hundred years ago, the Revolutionary war was over; the Northwestern Ordinance was signed in July, 1787; the Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787. The Western Reserve territory, after many disputes, was awarded to Connecticut who sold part of the territory to the Connecticut Land Company. George Washington and other famous Americans had surveyed much of this territory prior to the Revolutionary War, enabling its development for settlement to occur immediately after hostilities ended.

The history of Willoughby goes back many years, having its beginnings at the intersection of two Indian trails; River Street then called the "Salt Trail" and Euclid Avenue, called in those days the "Flint Trail", forming what is today known as Wes Point Park, the site of many Indian battles. To this Western Reserve Territory came traders, merchants, and settlers, each bringing with them the love of liberty, education, and religion, to live among the now friendly Indians who had built their Indian Village at the present site of the Andrews School.

David Abbott, a lawyer, and his wife, were one of the first families in the Willoughby area which then was called Chagrin. In 1797 a daughter was born to the Abbott's, the first white child in the Western Reserve. In the absence of a clergyman, the Indian Chief, Wambermong, seeing how anxious the mother was to have her baby baptized, and being so delighted with the baby, offered to have his Medicine Man baptize the infant. It seemed justified since the Medicine Man had been educated in a French Mission and was consecrated as a Catholic Priest. In a very impressive ceremony, the Medicine Man carried the baby gently in his arms to the bank of the Chagrin River. Dipping his fingers in the water, and looking heavenward, he named the baby in Indian tongue, "Flower of the Forest". Thus the first white child and the first baptism in the new territory occurred within a mile of our current church location.

The Presbyterian and the Congregational Churches were in advance of other religious bodies in making an effective effort to establish religious societies which hopefully would become strong churches in the Western Reserve. In 1789 the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States met in Philadelphia and sent out several missionaries as early as 1790. In 1801 the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches adopted "a plan of union" to work together in sending ministers as missionaries to the territories. Since the Presbyterian form of government was strongest, most of the churches were organized as Presbyterian.

On October 15, 1814 the Synod of Pittsburgh erected, out of the Presbytery of Hartford, the Presbytery of Grand River which was to occupy the whole of the Western Reserve Territory with the exception of ten counties in the Southeastern part of the territory. A Confession of Faith was adopted in Burton, Ohio on February 14, 1815 for the churches under the care of the new Presbytery.

Willoughby (Chagrin) with a population of 300 was a thriving settlement. The first physician arrived in 1813, the first postmaster in that same year, and the first stagecoach which came through our town for the first time in 1820 was followed by the mail coach in 1823, opening up the outside world to the settlers. This gave rise to inns, mills, homes, and schools with supplies having been brought in from Erie, Pennsylvania. During this time the Methodist Church organized as a society in Willoughby (1816).

The Old Stone Church in Cleveland, then having a population of less than 200, started as a Sunday School in 1819. On September 25, 1825 the General Assembly organized the Synod of the Western Reserve, embracing the Presbyteries of Grand River, Portage, and Huron, with thirty three ministers constituting the Synod. On April 25, 1830 this Synod organized the Cleveland Presbytery and then on October 26 of that same year, the Cleveland Presbytery held its first meeting at Dover, Ohio. In April 1833 the organization of the Presbyterian Society of Willoughby was created by The Rev. Chester Chapin and The Rev. Truman Coe. There were nine original members: Ebenezer Abbott, Robert Gough, Hugh and Mrs. Gordon, Aaron and Mrs. Allen, Sarah Shepard, Mary Chapin, and Anis Bates. They met each Sunday afternoon for services in a schoolhouse that was located on what is now the Willoughby City Hall Parking Lot, near the River Street Driveway. None of these people was wealthy, but each was willing to sacrifice in planning for God's work.

A list of the pledges by these people is included in this history to remind future generations of the commitment and dedication of these charter members.

Mr. Abbott $ 100
Rev. and Mrs. Chapin 100
Mary and Hugh Gordon 75
Mr. and Mrs. Allen (proceeds from apple crop: about $50)
Rev. Coe 35
Mrs. Annis Bates (proceeds from a bazaar: about $50)
Mrs. Sarah Shepard 100
Mr. Gough 200

During this time the name of town had been officially changed to Willoughby, the final name change after four previous ones.

Kirtland, having a population of over 1000, laid the cornerstone for the Mormon Temple in the same year the Presbyterian Society was formed. The Methodist Society the next year erected a church on the present River Street site. The Old Stone Church in Cleveland built its building which was dedicated in 1834. Even though some have called the Old Stone Church the "mother church", really the East Cleveland Presbyterian Church, today called First Presbyterian Church of East Cleveland, served the function for the first twenty years of providing to the settlers in this unbroken forest of the Western Reserve religious privileges; thus First Church East Cleveland is the "grandmother church" of all churches in what today we call the Presbytery of the Western Reserve.

On December 5, 1834 Samuel and Sarah Wilson donated the land on which the first church stood. It was located on Euclid Avenue, opposite Sharpe Avenue, at the Western End of Wes Point Park, adjacent to the Willoughby Eastlake Technical Center which at that time housed the Willoughby Medical School which in turn grew into the Western Reserve University. The reader should note that after the Medical School moved to Cleveland, a female Seminary was started which eventually became Lake Erie College. It is amazing just how significant are our historical roots as a church to all in our community today which enriches and enhances education and culture.

In 1835 the church was received into the Presbytery of Cleveland. Also, at this time construction began on a church building on the land donated by the Wilson family. The Rev. Chester Chapin served two years until the Rev. Page was employed to work part time for six months. On the first of August 1836, the Rev. R. Stone became pastor, remaining for one year. At this time the church, now made a Congregational Church, built its first structure at a cost of $6000 and was dedicated February 19, 1837. The Building was a red brick church with five large pillars of colonial architecture with the entrance facing Euclid Avenue. The interior was furnished in "golden oak" with rented pews as was the custom, supplied with doors to keep the family unit intact, so little ones could not wander. The pulpit was high above the congregation with the choir loft on the opposite side, making a beautiful sanctuary in which to worship.

Then followed the Rev. E. Adams from 1839 to 1840. Next came the Rev. Henry Steele Clarke from 1840 to 1846 under whose pastorate the church returned to its Presbyterian roots with the exception that the Elders would be limited in their service to three year terms instead of the practice in Presbyterian polity at that time of Elders for life. The Rev. Dorius Morris followed for one year in 1846. Then the Rev. Allan Nash served for two years and under his leadership in 1848 the church again shifted to a congregational form of government, even changing its name to the First Congregational Church of Willoughby, and yet maintaining its connection with Cleveland Presbytery. The Rev. C.H. Taylor came in 1849; he was followed by the Rev. Andrew Sharpe who arrived in 1852 and remained in this position for two years. In 1854 came the Rev. E. C. Moore, followed by the Rev. G.A. Adams who stayed only 10 months. In 1857 the Rev. J.E. Vance served for a little less than two years.

Up to this point the church had depended entirely on Stated Supplies for a period of more than twenty years. In January 1861 the Rev. Jos. E. Tinker, a licentiate of the Buffalo Presbytery, was invited to serve, with a call being extended to him which he later accepted. He was ordained and installed to this office on June 26, 1861, our church's first duly called minister. His pastorate lasted until 1867. The Rev. D. E. Steele was then called and served eight years. At this point in our church's history, a shift occurred which would last permanently, a shift back to Presbyterian polity as the church became a member of the Cleveland Presbytery and has remained in good standing with that Presbytery now called The Presbytery of the Western Reserve.

During Steele's ministry, the church began to keep records in a Session Book, which we have today as glimpses into our church's fascinating roots. This Session Book contained information which shows our church doing what Presbyterian churches should be doing: examining new members, baptizing, performing marriages, funeral services, and receiving people into the congregation through letters of transfer or affirmation of faith. The Session acted as a judicatory, passing judgment on the Christian characters of potential leaders and members. Any infraction by church members in their everyday activities was brought before the Session for decision as to whether the member or members should be dismissed from the church. The Session Records of 1873 include a case of a man who was accused of stealing, arrested, and subsequently served his time. The Session in its decision felt that mercy should be extended this man who had repented and wished to remain in the church.

In January 1873, the Rev. William Robertson became the next pastor called to the church; the very first one to occupy the new twelve room parsonage, built by the Trustees on a double lot, located on Center Street, directly to the rear of the church. The lot had been a gift from Mrs. H. I. Wright, the daughter of Samuel and Sarah Wilson who had donated the church property. His ministry ended upon his resignation in 1880. In September of that year, the Rev. A.J. Waugh came to Willoughby and ministered for ten years. At this time the original church was demolished to the sadness of a great many who loved its sacred appearance. But more room was needed because now Willoughby was flourishing and church attendance was increasing rapidly. The new building was constructed free of debt; the church members expressed their pride in the local paper. The Ad stated:

The Church is all paid for, and all seats are free. Everyone is invited to attend services and enjoy this new building.

The new church was dedicated on January 20, 1886. Although it was an icy day, the "wheeling" very poor, the church was crowded with chairs in the aisles and windows in the Sunday school room (what we called the Rose Room) were opened up to seat everyone. Former pastors from New York, Ashtabula, and Cleveland and local ministers all took part in the dedication. It was a day long to be remembered and cherished. The Women's Society entertained with an organ recital on the organ which they had purchased for the church, a pipe organ, supplied by air from bellows, manned by young boys hidden from view. There never was a shortage of these boys since they considered it an honor to be asked and this practice continued until at least 1920.

One of the most interesting anecdotes of that period of our church's history occurred the day of a communion service. Before the tradition was established of individual glasses for communion, the church used one large pitcher filled with wine to be poured during the service by the minister into two congregational goblets. The ladies of the church had prepared the table as usual, and after the minister had served the bread, the Rev. Waugh lifted the pitcher and to his dismay, he realized it was empty. The service was delayed until some good women hurried out to fill the pitcher so the worship service could resume. Plans were made to make sure that this would never happen again!

A highlight of our church history at this time was the increasing role of women in church missions. On September 10, 1873 the Women's Foreign Missionary Society of Presbyterian Churches was organized (later changed to the name, Women's Presbyterial Foreign Missionary Society). This voluntary organization in reality was an outgrowth of a group which had been in existence for forty years, having been organized at the Old Stone Church in Cleveland in 1833. This Christian group had sent many missionaries to distant lands including two from our church in Willoughby, Emily Carpenter and Liza D. Everett, who went in the early 1840's to China and Syria respectively. In 1888 in response to an invitation from the Presbyterial Committee on Home Missions, a Women's Presbyterial Home Missionary Society was formed.

For three years following the resignation of the Rev. Waugh, the pulpit was filled by the Rev. F.G. Weeks, a supply appointed by the Presbytery. The Rev. Selden Dickinson, a Congregationalist, arrived in 1893 to serve the church and led the church for six years. In his pastorate, James McMahon (the first Mr. Willoughby), then a boy of 14 years, began singing in our choir which he continued for more than sixty years. His beautiful rich voice was a pleasure to hear. The amazing aspect of this portion of our church history is that Jim was Roman Catholic, thus providing an early witness to our ecumenical growth.

In 1896 according to The History of Presbyterianism in the sixty three years of its existence, our church had a total of twenty three ministers, only three of whom were installed as called pastors to the church. The church had received into membership 549 people since it was organized, and at this point in our church growth, we were a church of over 100 members, with a good parsonage and a church free of debt (the property was estimated to be worth more than $15,000, a fine tribute to its founders). The Home and Foreign Missionary Societies were active as well.

In 1899 Mr. T.S. Harbach, an Elder of the church for many years, died, leaving the church a house and lot in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. In July of that year, the church sold the property, improving its financial standing. At that time, Dr. Henry Golden, of whom little is known except that he was a very intellectual, polished gentleman, came to serve the church. In his brief, one year pastorate, many new members joined, bringing the total membership at the turn of the century to 144.

The next minister was the Rev. E. R. Wright, who served until 1903 before he resigned to become the Assistant Pastor of Calvary Church in Cleveland. Then came the Rev. L.A. Lindemuth for about four years. During this pastorate, the church created a Deaconess Board composed of five women appointed to serve without ordination. Besides being a pastor, Rev. Lindemuth was a capable "handyman" as the church was repaired and redecorated with most of the work being done by the pastor himself. In 1904 the church was rededicated. One of the new members during his pastorate was Delia Reynolds, a woman who later in our church's history served a significant role in helping the church climb out of debt.

The Rev. W. L. Roberts was our next minister, serving from 1907 until 1910. He was followed by a Supply Minister who was also a college student at Oberlin College, the Rev. Robert Porter, who filled the Pulpit until 1912. In that year, the Rev. L. P. McCulloch serve for six years when ill health force him to resign. His departure was keenly felt by the community as well as the church as he and his family had become involved in various community activities.

Dr. W.L. Swan followed in 1918; under his pastorate, the first children's talk during worship, took place, for five minutes each worship service. A Men's Club was formed for the purpose of social activities. Swan also put into motion the raising of funds for the building of an addition to the church to house the ever expanding Sunday school. Mrs. Swan's devotion to Missionary Societies created more interest in missionary work both home and abroad at the church. One of these mission programs was Harkness Camp, a fresh air summer camp for underprivileged children of the area, including Cleveland. It was located on property now occupied in Eastlake by CEI (Erie Road and the shores of Lake Erie). The church provided financial help and volunteers to work at making the Camp a wonderful and healthy experience for the children.

At the Annual meeting,in January 1926, the Trustees were increased from five to six. In December 1926, the Rev. Charles MacLennan arrived in Willoughby from New Brunswick, Canada to serve a church which was ripe for conflict and dissension. This minister attempted to bring many changes in policy and program to a conservative church with his more liberal viewpoint of religion. This led to many disagreements and a serious drop in membership. Of course, the depression, bank failures, and finally the Ohio Rubber Strike, all played their part in causing the church to shrink, with the result that only 20 30 were in attendance during worship on a given Sunday. Each side in this church split blamed the other for not trying hard enough to help the church. The addition which Dr. Swan had planned was finished and dedicated on June 12, 1927; the Sunday school was renamed, the Church School. Rev. MacLennan, having four children of his own, was instrumental in starting Christian Endeavor. His work with young people was inspiring and he often had them for group meetings and planned activities at the Manse. Despite his fine youth work, the church continued to flounder with an ever growing deficit each year as pledges were not being paid because of the depression and dissatisfaction with the current leadership of the church. The possibility of selling the church building had been considered, but never materialized given the poor financial conditions of the country. The mortgages, held on the church and the manse at just 4% interest, were too large for the church to overcome them. In these ten years of ministry, Rev. MacLennan had never received a full salary.

In September 1938, an appeal was made to Presbytery to settle this situation. Dr. A. W. Bloomfield, executive Secretary of the Cleveland Presbytery, was given the task of trying to find a solution for a church with little or no money and a minister who would not leave without what was owed him in back salary. Dr. Bloomfield told the Presbytery that he would need six months and would report back to them at their Easter meeting. He then told MacLennan why he had been sent, and he promised before he reported to Presbytery, he would get together with MacLennan and those remaining as church members, to share with them his findings. A week before Easter, Rev. MacLennan was told to call a congregational meeting so all the facts could be placed before them. The meeting revealed that Rev. MacLennan had kept an accurate account of what the church owed him each year, bringing the total to $2670 ! Dr. Bloomfield then asked the group what they were going to do about this outstanding obligation. Someone moved that the church pay MacLennan $2700, not knowing where or how they would get the money. Rev. MacLennan corrected the mover, stating that the amount was exactly $2670. Dr. Bloomfield asked Rev. MacLennan what he intended to do to help after much thought, he said he would leave the church if he could stay for six months at $50 per month until he could find another church. He argued that it was hard to find a new call unless the pastor could be heard in the pulpit regularly. Dr. Bloomfield asked a group concerned about Presbyterian life in the Presbytery, the Presbyterian Union, to advance the money to pay off the minister. Rev. MacLennan received a check larger than he had ever seen before.

At the Easter meeting of the Presbytery, Dr. Bloomfield told the Presbytery that everything was settled with the church; the minister was paid, and was leaving within six months. Therefore on Presbytery's recommendation, the pastoral relation between MacLennan and the church was dissolved. The parsonage was sold to cover some of the debts, including the settlement regarding Rev. MacLennan's termination. Since $3000 was still left from the sale of the Manse, it was placed in a Manse Fund to be used only for capital expenses.

New Sanctuary dedicated in 1993

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