Saint Paul United Church of Christ (Mount Eaton)
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- Name
- St. Paul United Church of Christ (Mount Eaton, Ohio)
- Other Services
- Religious / Grantmaking / Civil / Profession and Similar Organizations
- Brands
- Church of Christ
- Services
- Church
- Founded
- 1825
Mount Eaton,Ohio
- Predecessors
- Successors
- St. Paul United Church of Christ
- 8494 North Market St., Mount Eaton, 44659, Ohio
- 8478 North Market St., Mount Eaton, 44659, Ohio
St. Paul United Church of Christ was located at 8494 North Market Street, Mt. Eaton It was established in 1825 as St. Paul Evangelical and Reformed Church. A name change occurred in 1957. *St. Paul closed its doors and Mt. Eaton Community Church opened at this location. Sources found for this church were; Wipert’s Church Histories of Wayne County, Ohio, History of Wayne County, Ohio 1978, pg. 51, Wayne-Holmes Countywide Phone Book, April 2016, pg. 72 and church records located in the Wayne County Public Library Genealogy Department.
Around the 1820-1825 period there was a log house, its site on the lot diagonally across from the present bank building, served the needs of this congregation. The majority of the congregation were Pennsylvania Germans of the Reformed faith. About 1835 a great many French speaking Swiss immigrants came to Paint Township and Mt. Eaton. They were of the Reformed faith but because they spoke French they formed a separate congregation. They began their worship in a round frame school house in the northeastern part of the village. After some time, the Germans of the original congregation decreased in number and so they discontinued their part of the service. This was an opportunity for the German Reformed and the Swiss Reformed to worship in the same church. The affiliation of the two groups was now agreeable as they were now of one doctrine. They continued to use their own language, one week in French, the next week in German.
A new church soon became necessary to accommodate the larger congregation. In the summer of 1842 a new church was started but not finished until 1846. Dedication of this church was held October 8th, 1848. On January 1, 1849 there were 150 French members and 150 German members. Until the 1880's both congregations had in their own separate ways carried on a common work for the Reformed Church, but then became one in fact as well as name. The Reverend J.H. Beck was called and a pastorate of intense activity and great success followed. During this time a new church was erected. The cornerstone was laid in June 1888 and the dedication was held in 1889. This is the site of the present church. The tall steeple of this church was struck by lightning and burned. The rest of the church was saved. The steeple was never rebuilt, but a belfry was erected and a large church bell was installed. The inscription read "I praise the True God - I call the People" St. Paul had its largest membership about 1900 of 600 members.
In 1950 the chancel was extensively remodeled and a Schantz pipe organ was installed. In 1957 the Evangelical Reformed Church united with the Congregational Christian Church to form the United Church of Christ. St. Paul joined this denomination and became St. Paul United Church of Christ and a new Constitution was adopted by the congregation. St. Paul held its Sesquicentennial observance September 21, 28, and October 5 and 12th, 1975. On May 19th, 1982, lightning struck the church for the third time and severely damaged the structure. On June 13th, 1982 the membership in congregational meeting voted to erect a new church on the present site. The first service was held in the new church on Christmas Eve 1982. Dedication was held on August 7th,1983.
Slogans
Yearbooks
Membership
Pastors of St. Paul United Church of Christ
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Rana Harman | |
| E. Greenwald | 1832 |
| Switzer | 1836-1840 |
| A.L.W. Gegamon | |
| Robert Kochler | 1845-1846 |
| William B. Rally | 1846-1851 |
| John Ackert | 1851-1868 |
| Philip Becker | 1868-1876 |
| Henry Nau | 1876-1883 |
| John H. Beck | 1883-1889 |
| D.M. Christman | 1889-1893 |
| Joseph C. Smith | 1893-1898 |
| John H. Beck | 1898-1904 |
| Julius F. Granel | 1904-1906 |
| Edwin H. Vornholt | 1906-1910 |
| F.W. Goetsch | 1910-1916 |
| Samuel J.T. Flohr | 1916-1941 |
| Elmer A. Gradwohl | 1942-1947 |
| Frank R. Zartman | 1947 |
Quick Facts
- St. Paul United Church of Christ is Founded in 1825
- Many French speaking Swiss immigrants of the Reformed Faith came to Paint Township and Mt. Eaton in 1835 and formed their own congregation because they spoke French they held services separately in their own language.
- Circa 1840 the Germans of the original congregation (Reformed Church) decreased in number so they discontinued their part of the service. This provided an opportunity for the German Reformed and the French Reformed to worship in the same church. The affiliation was agreeable because they were now of the same doctrine.
- A new church building was necessary to accommodate the larger congregation and the new building was started in summer 1842, but wasn't finished until 1846
- The Dedication of the new church was held October 8th, 1848
- By January 1, 1849 there were 150 French members and 150 German members
- By the 1880's both congregations had melded into one body in fact as well as name
- In 1888 a new church building was again needed and the cornerstone was laid in June 1888
- The Dedication of the new building was held in 1889, this was on the site of the present church
- The tall steeple of this church was struck by lightning and burned. The steeple was never rebuilt, but a belfry was erected and a new church bell installed with the inscription, "I praise the true God - I call the people".
- St. Paul's largest membership was circa 1900 of 600 people
- In 1950 the chancel was extensively remodeled and a Schantz pipe organ was installed
- In 1957 the Evangelical Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church united to form the United Church of Christ. St. Paul's joined this new church and became the St. Paul's United Church of Christ
- St. Paul held its Sesquicentennial observance on September 21, 28, and October 5th and 12th, 1975
- On May 19th, 1982 lightning struck the church for the third time and severely damaged the structure
- On June 13th, 1982 the membership voted to erect a new church on the present church site
- The first service was held in the new church on Christmas Eve 1982.
- The Dedication of the new church was held on August 7th, 1983.