THE PLACES OF WORSHIP
The history, from various church publications.
The_First_First_Presbyterian_Church
The_Second_First_Presbyterian_Church
The_Third_First_Presbyterian_Church
The_Fourth_Church_Building
The first First Presbyterian Church
Into the almost pathless wilderness of Richland County, came the pioneer settlers of the early 19th century. Among these early settlers of the town were a number of families of Scotch and Irish descent. These pioneers traversed the wilderness on horseback, bringing with them their most treasured possessions and their most treasured books – the Bible, Psalm books, and catechisms. After building their cabins and clearing the fields, they turned their thoughts to building a house of worship.
It was during the year 1805, when Rev. Geo. VanEman, an itinerant Presbyterian preacher, began preaching in Mansfield. He held camp meetings on the ground now occupied by the Evangelical United Brethren Church at the fork of S. Main Street and Lexington Avenue, preaching from a log pulpit with the people sitting on fallen logs. At this time, this area was “country” from Mansfield, the lot being used as a Fairground and for camp meetings. Later he conducted services in the upper room of the Block House on the Public Square. He was certainly the first minister of any denomination to preach in or near Mansfield, and later became the permanent pastor for a number of years.
The First Presbyterian Church in Mansfield was organized sometime in the course of the year 1816, by Rev. Van Eman and George Scott, who were directed to do so by the Presbytery of Lancaster. At the time of organization, there were six males and seven females, a ratio that has continued ever since. While we have no records of the exact date, the consensus of opinion among the members of later years, was that the organization took place April, 1816, and this has become the accepted and fixed date as a matter of record proof. There was no church edifice. The Rev. Van Eman’s salary was $75 a year.
In 1816, George Berryhill, Matthias Day, and Noah Cook were elected and ordained ruling elders. During this year, a movement was started to build the first structure, but owing to the poverty and stringent finances of the group, the work was postponed until 1820, when it was decided to put up a good church building of modest proportions, which would be a credit to the town.
THE FIRST CHURCH
A Mr. Day was employed as the architect, builder, and general manager, at a salary of $1.00 per day, for there was little money in circulation at that time. Trading between parties, as well as between merchants and their customers, consisted very largely of “barter” – furs, deer skins, and farm products, in exchange for merchandise and services. Thus, as was the custom, the money for the Church was supplied by skins, paris green, homemade nails, hinges, and herbs and tobacco. When the building material was prepared and delivered to the Church grounds, the frame was erected by what was called a “frolic”. Every able bodied man was expected to give of his time and work without remuneration.
General James Hedges had donated a lot on the south east corner of the Public Square. A subscription was taken, payable in cash, labor, lumber and medicinal roots, or other materials that could be used in the construction of a Church. The first “frolic” of the Presbyterians was to clear the land of brush and timber. This was done in the fall of 1820, and the ground was made ready for the Church. By spring, a number of saw mills began operations and the men hauled the boards to the Church grounds. By the first of May, the lumber was all on the grounds and they commenced framing the Church. As timber was plentiful and cost nothing, they took the best and lots of it. The sills were 12 x 12, lower joists were young trees, hewed only on the upper side, studdings were saplings hewed on two sides, except at the windows, which required many men to raise. It was the rule among pioneers, in their loggings and raisings, to assist their neighbors.
The day for raising the building was set. The women were requested to see that there would be a good dinner, which was served on the Public Square, where a burning log, heaped with plenty of good wood, greeted them. Tables and benches were made of wood from the Church lot. Mr. Day had everything completed so that there was no hitch in the raising. A good dinner was had at noon, and long before night, the raising was completed. There had probably never been so many people congregated at one place in this town before.
And now, what to us would be very much out of place, they bought and had on hand, six gallons of whiskey for the raising, and it was all drunk up that day. It cost, then, $3.00 at the Sturges Store. As that was the custom at the time, it is doubtful whether the Church could have been raised without the whiskey.
The new Church was about eighty feet long and forty feet wide, with a large gallery on three sides. A pulpit platform was elevated about four feet above the floor, and was large enough to accommodate six or seven ministers. Bible and hymn book desks were neatly paneled in front. There were two large aisles with paneled gates to pews, and there were a few pews running perpendicular to the pulpit. There were three narrow communion tables, one the length of the double pews, and two the length of the side pews, each with two benches to match. The Church was heated by four large boxwood stoves, one near each corner of the building. It was lighted by four large lamps burning whale oil. For the pulpit, there were two nice brass candlesticks, and on the north of the building was a fine old fashioned steeple.
The last work done at the church by Mr. Day, the builder, was to place the rooster on top of the steeple. Years afterwards, he said it was the most dangerous job that he did.
Between the years 1832 and 1855, the Church was harassed and disturbed by internal agitation and dissension pertaining to the slavery and temperance questions. Indeed, a score or more of the members withdrew and organized the First Congregational Church of Mansfield. Other members absented themselves from Church services over the questions. Determined to rule in their own arbitrary manner, two contentious elders, each having a following of his own, divided the membership into two factions, which action caused the Presbytery to recommend the building of a second Church in order to restore harmony. This was built on the land where St. Peter’s Elementary School now stands, on S. Mulberry Street. However, in 1846, the new seceding Church was dissolved when a majority of the members returned to the mother church. This second church was then purchased by the Catholics and used as their first church.
The slavery and temperance questions where always disturbing in the affairs of the Church. Two parties were known as the Memoralists and the Resolutionists. They published pamphlets know as “The Reply” and “the Rifle”, but copies of neither one can be found. During the Rev. Thomas Davis’ pastorate, a number of members of the Church arose from their seats, as if on signal, and stomped out when he prayed for the Union Cause.
In the early days of the Church, trials were held admonishing the various members for their sins. Such a trial was held in our Church, concerning the group that were absenting themselves from the services. Dissension seemed to stem from an editorial appearing in the Mansfield Shield and Banner, written by the editor Mr. G. Y. Glessner, on Oct. 14, 1863. The record of this trial may be found in the Session records for that year, but a copy of the newspaper of that date, with the editorial cannot be found. The trial makes very interesting reading, and br9ings out the same viewpoints that are held today.
For a number of years, the Church was without a regular pastor, owing to the financial condition of the Church, and that of the country at large. They were simply unable to raise enough money for the minister’s salary, and indeed, owed several for salaries – one pastor even threatening to take the Church into court for $1,100 due him. But the women of the Church came to the rescue, and by putting on a number of oyster suppers, were able to pay off the debt to the ministers and janitor.
The Church also became very much in need of repairs, and as the Episcopal Church of the city was also without a pastor, the Church was offered to the Presbyterians for a meeting place, providing they furnish new Russian iron stovepipes at a cost of $17.00. The offer was accepted, and services were held there during the winter and spring, the congregation returning to their own Church during the summer. They then obtained the use of the Baptist Church for a second winter.
The second First Presbyterian Church
After much consideration by both members and Session, it was decided not to repair the old Church but to build a new one, and during Mr. Burgett's ministry, a new church was built on the grounds of the old one, and the cornerstone was laid on Sept. 17, 1858.
The first services in the new Church were held in the basement, on April 30, 1863, and the whole building was dedicated to the true and loving God, during the Rev. George Morris' pastorate.
A Pastor's Aid Society was organized during the ministry of the Rev. David Hall, 1867-74, but it lasted only a few years, not because the pastor did not feel the need of it, but because the Church was not ready to accept the women in the organization of the Church. It was at this time, too, that weekly prayer meetings were organized.
A work which excited some attention in the Church and community was that among the African-American population. In the year 1864, a Sunday School was started for African-Americans in the Church, and some twenty to twenty-five people attended, but, because of prejudices following the Civil War, there seemed to be many difficulties. Finally the group was moved to the Y.M.C.A., and became known as the Union Colored Sunday School of Mansfield. Mr. L. J. Bonar continued as Suuperintendent.
Late that summer, on Sept. 9, 1866, thirty African-Americans were taken into membership of the Church by the Session. Most of them later formed Mitchel Chapel on Glessner Avenue, and the others went into other churches of the town. One of the group, Mr. Lemuel Maston, was taken under the care of Presbytery with the view of entering the ministry, and with the help of the Mansfield church he continued his studies at Lincoln University.
It was not until the women of the country began to assert themselves on the issues of the day, both on the political rights of women and on the temperance question, that women's organizations were formed in the Church -- the men not feeling the necessity for such a group. However, as has been noted, when the minister's salary was past due, it was the women of the Church who came to the rescue of the trustees and put on suppers and entertainments to bring the Church out of its financial crisis.
In 1820, they had become organized as a Women's Foreign Missionary Society, under the Presbytery of Wooster, through the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and many missionary projects were undertaken. Later a Working Society and Helper's Society were organized to look after the material needs of the Church. Other groups formed were the Young Women's Missionary Society, the Rachel France Guild, and the Forget-Me-Not Circle, which took as its project, furnishing flowers for the Church on Sunday. Still later the name of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society was changed to The Women's Association of the First Presbyterian Church, and circles were formed.
ON July 31, 1864, a committee was appointed by the Session to make arrangements about singing in the Church, and to make known the result of the inquiries. As a result, they were authorized to engage a Mr. Ingersoll, at $150 a year, "to play the organ, lead the singing, and give instruction in music to all the congregation who wished to attend". During this year, monthly concerts were given by the Choir on Thursday evening. Nov. 9, 1875, however, two leading members of the choir asked the Session to make an investigation of the questionable behavior of certian of its members whose practice it was to slip over into Central Park during the sermon, returning when the high sign was given. This practice was soon discontinued.
In 1879, the subject of church music was again brought before the Session and "discussed at some length, with some warmth, but in a generous Christian Spirit, and the general sentiment of the Session was that the music had better be confined to the congregation."
Pews were rented in the early days, and there are several references to this practice in the Session records. On May 9, 1865, an assessment of $450 was made on the pew holders to liquidate the remainder of the Church debt. Again in 1880, the trustees had to scold persons "owning pews" to be more prompt in their pew rents. After the dedication of the church on Mulberry Street in 1893, the matter of distribution of seats occupied considerable time, and did not satisfy the congregation. Numbers for the seats were prepared and heads of families drew the numbers of the seats they were to occupy. As many were dissatisfied with the outcome of this, the choice of seats was cancelled and by 1895 all seats in the new Church were free.
The third First Presbyterian Church
The year 1886 marks the building of the third church which was proposed at a congregational meeting held in April of 1890. It met with so much discouragement, that one businessman, Mr. Peter Bissman, offered to contribute one-tenth of the cost of such a building as was contemplated. The work was begun on March 1891, and the Church was dedicated on the 14th day of May, 1893.
Newspaper reporting indicated that members were engaged all day May 13th and “late into the night, arranging the Church in a most attractive manner. No special arrangements are necessary to make the interior attractive, as elegance greets the eye on every side. Among the beautiful effects … are the north and south windows, known as the Cowan windows, costing $1000 and the Purdy window, $600. The arrangement for lighting the immense auditorium is a magnificent piece of mechanism. There are 384 electric bulbs, 250 gas jets, all of which can be lighted at the same time. The building cost $70,000, and money well expended. The structure from the outside is very pleasing.”
Over one thousand people attended the dedication at which the Reverend D. J. Meese D.D. offered prayer, and Dr. S. F. Scoville, President of Wooster College, preached the sermon. The Sunday Shield states that he addressed the audience for nearly an hour, but “on account of his eloquence and depth, he was at all time entertaining.” After the service, the meeting was turned over to the building committee. The congregation was in debt over $20,000, but an effort was made that day to raise the sum, “and by evening, the full amount had been taken care of and the congregation is to be congratulated.” Whether this is merely a report is not known, since there are some discrepancies, as when the “Church debt” is referred to later; it is possible, however, that money was borrowed on the property as extensive repairs costing $18,000 were made in 1909 and 1910.
Dr. Meese resigned in order to become the chaplain at the Ohio State Reformatory in 1908. On his last Sunday, Sept. 28, 1908, the largest congregation ever, filled the church to say goodbye. According to the Mansfield News, “his references brought tears to the eyes of many.” The city was then one third larger than when he had come, Presbyterian church membership had quadrupled, and Church property was valued at $100,000. His resignation was accepted with universal regret.
Much of the church history for the ensuing years must be gleaned from newspaper writings, as the minutes of the Session and Trustees are noted for their lack of information. Except for the number of communicants received and dismissed, and the church school attendance figure, the business of the church went virtually unrecorded. Even the Church’s Centennial celebration is only alluded to in the notation of an “appropriation of ten dollars for 40 church histories”. (These were copies of L. J. Bonar’s historical address at the Centennial.)
Tuesday, April 11, 1916, marked the beginning of a week-long celebration of the first one hundred years of the Mansfield Presbyterian Church, and Dr. J. Ross Stevenson spoke on “The Healing Ministry of the Church.” Mr. L. J. Bonar made the historical address (which is now in the Church Library) from which much of the early history in this account is taken. The celebration culminated with the Sunday April 16th service with 523 present at Sunday School. Dr. McMillin presided; the Reverend Meese was present, as he had been at most of the week’s activities; and J. D. Moffat gave the address, “God’s Method of Dealing With Nations.” According to the Mansfield News, “Notwithstanding the inclement weather, there was a large attendance at all services.”
Two years later, April 21, 1918, the one hundred second anniversary was celebrated, with emphasis, in that war era, on Prayer and Thanksgiving. Pastor McMillin was loaned to the war effort for three months to take charge of religious work at Yaphank, New York. On October 7, 1918, the war again made itself felt, when all public meetings, including church services, were suspended by order of the Board of Health, because of the Spanish Influenza epidemic. The ban was lifted five weeks later, and the sermon that Sunday was “Victory over the Hun, over the Saloon, and over the Epidemic!”
When Dr. McMillin resigned in 1922, a summation of accomplishments pointed up the healthy condition of the church, with payment of $20,000 on the church debt, purchase of a splendid pipe organ, and a fund of $5,000 toward a new Sunday School building. Dr. Arthur Hughes was given a call, and was installed on May 3, 1922.
During the next few years, it is interesting to notice the changing concepts. Sitting during prayer was criticized as irreverent, so the congregation stood; the word “collection” was deemed offensive, and “offering” was substituted; the lack of a school auditorium caused the opening of the sanctuary to other than divine worship of musical performances, though this had been resisted during the previous years. “Sunday School” became “Church School” – though this habit was harder to overcome than some of the others. At one time, a motion to publish the amount pledged by each person was passed by a very close vote, then reconsidered, and finally denied. The time for vespers and for Sunday evening Prayer Meeting was shifted considerably in an attempt to bolster attendance. Feb. 26, 1926, appears to be the date the Prince of Peace Declamation Contest was begun in the Church, and is still in existence.
On April 18, 1929, $24,384 having been secured for a Church School Building, the committee was authorized to proceed with construction, not to exceed $28,000, although this had been in the talk stage since 1922, and the whole idea had been abandoned at one time in 1926. No mention is made of the completion date nor of a formal dedication, but it is believed it was completed before the end of 1929.
That the depression was beginning to make itself felt is obvious by January 1930, when the Session minutes report the Trustee having difficulty with money matters. Again in June 1933, the church pledges were being received “so slowly.”
Regretfully, The Reverend Hughes’ resignation was accepted on Dec. 4, 1932, when he received a call to a larger pastorate in Ridgeway, New Jersey. He was succeeded in March, 1933, by The Reverend Marcus Grether, who remained only till October 1935.
In May, 1936, the church called the Reverend D. N. Roller, and so began a relationship that lasted seventeen years. Through the years of Dr. Roller’s administration, little information is gleaned from the Session’s minutes except that there was more emphasis on the program for the youth of the church, and there was an increasing interest in the music department. A full choir was now serving in place of the quartet. During this time, World War II brought social changes, with gas rationing, which caused Church School to be held at the same time as Church, so that families needed to make only one trip.
Concerning the parsonages – it is necessary to go back a little. The Mercer home, on the west side of Sturges Avenue, was purchased during Dr. Meese’s pastorate, at a cost of $5,000. This was later sold, along with another property given by Miss Jane Vasbinder, and the two homes provided the money for building the parsonage on Park Avenue West, later occupied by the American Red Cross. For a reported $7,800, this home was sold, and a home rented temporarily for the Rollers at 215 Euclid Avenue. Several years later, a new manse was purchased on Davis Road, for a reported $17,000, though this is not mentioned in session minutes. It was sold in 1954 for $32,000.
As early as 1916, there had been references to “secretaries” and “assistants” to the pastor, and down through the years it appears that these women were also connected with religious education, music, “and other duties.” Miss Margaret Mansfield, Mss Blanche McCartney and Miss Margaret Cowl were among them. However, Miss Janet Sangree, hired in May 1948, was the first to be called “Director of Christian Education”, and during her stay, enrollment increased one-third. Undoubtedly, the splendid New Curriculum, published by Westminster Press was partly responsible for this, as was the wave of “war babies”. Westminster Fellowship for young people was begun, and in 1950 the Youth Budget was established. Miss Sangree resigned to be married in June 1950.
Since the size of the church seemed to warrant an assistant, the Reverend Bruce Davis was called on October 4, 1952. Then followed another of those most difficult periods, when a succession of ministers, assistants, and other staff might have sapped the life of a weaker church.
Dr. Roller resigned on July 24, 1953, to be replaced by Dr. James H. Brown, who was installed February 28, 1954. Many changes in the physical church were made during his regime. Church aisles were rearranged so that “a bride might have a center aisle approach”, a new, large, center pulpit replaced the two pedestals, and a new communion table was installed. The Browns established the Wee Kirk, a junior church, which was well attended, but was in conflict with the program of the General Assembly, and was disbanded when Dr. Brown resigned October 27, 1957.
Bruce Davis left Jan. 1, 1955. In December 1954 John Wareham became assistant but resigned the following September 1955. In Sept. 1955 came the resignation of Mrs. Mary Anglin, choir director. Then, Miss Mabel Zehner gave a farewell organ recital on Sept. 27, 1955. On October 1st, Mr. Dale Peiffer became the first full time Minister of Music. On October 28, 1956 the Rev. Charles Geisler became assistant to Dr. Brown, and remained until June 1960.
The enduring strength of the congregation is evident in the fact that during these turbulent years, in spite of misunderstanding and schism, attendance in the church school increased to such an extent that the Session rented and redecorated the Fernyak property behind the Church on West Third and Weldon Avenue.
During the year 1958, the merger combining the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. with the United Presbyterian Church of North America was effected by the General Assembly. On June 20, 1958, the Linden Road Presbyterian Church of Mansfield, recognizing that our Church had long been known as the First Presbyterian Church of Mansfield, extended to us the privilege of the name “First United Presbyterian Church”, and they chose Linden Road United Presbyterian Church.
The Fourth Church Building
On August 28, 1960, the congregation, the Board of Trustees, and the Future Planning Committee purchased 8 acres of land (later increasing to 11 acres) for a new church at Millsboro and Trimble Roads. A study of the homes of the church members had indicated a southwest location. This during the ministry of Calvin Winder who was installed as the Senior Minister at First Presbyterian Church on August 13, 1958. On October 12, 1960, the Session (the leadership body) approved a unicameral system of church government (combined the Trustees with the Session) in order to bring about greater and speedier communications among the groups. This measure was passed by the congregation on November 19, 1961, after a new set of by-laws were written incorporating the single board plan.
Meanwhile, the business of the new church was proceeding, and on Feb. 14, 1962, the Session authorized the Future Planning Commission to enter into an agreement with Copper, Wade, and Associates for preliminary drawings. In 1964, the firm of Ketchum, Inc. was hired to conduct the fund-raising campaign. Activity began with a thrillingly successful Congregational Dinner put on by the church women at the Masonic Temple, attended by over 600, when enthusiasm reached so high a pitch, it was said, that, had we been able to put out pledge cards that night, the Campaign might have been oversubscribed then and there. Enthusiasm never cooled, for in June 1964, Dr. Winder announced from the pulpit that the goal of $435,000 had not only been reached, but had been oversubscribed to the amount of $565,000. It was a fervent congregation that sang that day, “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!”
Work went forward rapidly, with a ground breaking ceremony on April 19, 1964, and by the grace of God, fair weather, and a diligent contractor, the Cornerstone was laid November 1, 1964. The contractor, R.G. Beer Corp., progressed and the congregation reluctantly put the old church up for sale. An offer of $58,000 by the adjacent parking lot company was approved by the session, though it meant vacating the premises before the new church would be ready. However, at the last moment, a group of members guaranteed the Church the same selling price whenever the new building was ready. This obviated temporary removal, and the offer was gratefully accepted.
The opening service on Nov. 14, 1965 drew a crowd of 767 people who overflowed in to the chapel and adjoining rooms. On Nov. 28, Dedication Sunday, it was almost as crowded, at 658. On January 22, 1966 an Open House was held.
Constructed at a cost of $844,438 including furnishings, the church’s remaining indebtedness stood at $105,000, which was not considered excessive. The sanctuary with balcony seats 640 people. A new organ was purchased, but the console was brought from the old church and refinished. A Chapel was constructed as well within the building comfortably seating 90 people.
At the time the church recognized this material accomplishment for its work and worship, the following was written: “One hundred fifty years of Mansfield, Ohio’s First United Presbyterian Church history reveals the changelessness of human nature. The church of each generation grapples with the same problems of materialism, financing, indifference and bias, yet each generation bolstered by the same assets of love, faith and works, in spite of self imposed setbacks, builds confidently for the future, however imperfectly.”
Building Today and Tomorrow. Most recently, during the ministry of Dennis Allison and on the foundation laid by The Reverend Dr. William Bowers, several improvements have been made.
Considering local demographics and this church's particular mission, the congregation completed a 1.2 million dollar capital campaign out of which accessibility features such as an elevator were added. Also, the congregation has refitted the kitchen, enlarged the building to add a room for music preparation, and added a storage room for the yearly sales providing among other things an opportunity for people to purchase clothing and other items at relatively little cost. The church gave $120,000 toward revitalizing the Christian camp Pleasant Hill Outdoor Center. Funding was provided to the local Habitat For Humanity for the construction of housing, and funding was provided for Youth For Christ. Through all of this the leadership determined not to incur debt in advance of campaign receipts, and because of that the church has completed its projects debt free.
The mission is Jesus the Christ as Way, Truth and Life, and the physical space for that empowerment could be absolutely ugly and in every way evil unless people go from the place willing and able to demonstrate the Faith. It is the prayer that this has been the case, and will continue to be in the years to come.
