FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH...SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO

            The spiritual lineage of First Congregational Church of Akron traces back through the ages to the life and ministry of Jesus. Rooted in the Christian tradition, we are descendants of the Reformation and of the Pilgrims who embarked for North America in search of religious freedom. Like those early Congregationalists, we take to heart the sentiment expressed aboard the Speedwell in 1620 by John Robinson, pastor of the first band to leave Europe: “I am persuaded that the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth from His holy word.”

First Church, established in 1833, was Akron’s first formally organized church congregation. At that time in our history, the seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, was in the White House. There were only 24 states in the Union, and Ohio was just 30 years old. It would be almost another 40 years before the first rubber factory opened for business in 1870. These were pre-railroad times; the Ohio and Erie Canal was a mere five years old. Slavery was legal. Some significant milestones:

1834 – State of Ohio recognized petition to incorporate the First Congregational Church. Rev. John Pettit becomes first minister. First building was located on High Street, where the courthouse is currently.

1844 – Having grown out of first building, second building at N. Main Street and Tallmadge Avenue is built.

1868 – 34 S. High Street became the third church building following a devastating fire that leveled the N. Main Street church. An 1881 fire damaged but did not destroy this building, which was restored (though eventually outgrown).

June 1908 – Ground was broken and cornerstone laid for current Bedford limestone building at East Market and Union Streets. The congregation marched from the old church to the new on June 7 to witness the laying of the cornerstone. Plans included today’s distinctive bell and clock tower, 100 feet high and 18 feet square.

March 20, 1910 – First service was held in the still-unfinished building.

Christmas Day, 1910 – First service held in the present Meetinghouse (sanctuary).

1951 – A Casavant Freres pipe organ was installed. Built in Quebec, Canada, it currently contains more than 3,500 individual pipes controlled from a console of four keyboards and a pedalboard.

1958 – A new wing added a chapel, offices, meeting rooms and lounge to the existing church building.

2006 – Major Restoration to the Meetinghouse and Organ Completed:

Taken in: United States / Ohio / Akron / Cascade (historical) (show map)

Taken on: November 8, 2019

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Sets appears in: • CHURCHES • OLD BUILDINGS AND ARCHITECTURE

Groups appears in: • Ohio • Churches - Please read the rules before posting more » • Old Structures. • Old And Beautiful (buildings ,barns, shacks, and abandoned homes • Ohio Amateur Photography • Summit County Ohio • PBWA - Photography By Wandering About • Panasonic DC-TZ90 & DC-ZS70 Lumix « less

Camera: Panasonic DC-ZS70, f/6.0, 1/200 sec, 15mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Panasonic DC-ZS70
Aperture:	f/6.0
Exposure Time:	0.005 sec (1/200)
Focal Length:	15mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Contrast:	High
Saturation:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PhotoScape
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