Calvary's History

Calvary's History A Brief History Of Calvary Presbyterian Church

It was the singing of a hymn titled "Calvary" and the spiritual force that followed that led early members to adopt unanimously the name for our church. By June23, 1895, a total of 203 charter members had been received in Calvary Church. Of these first 203 members, some 155 had transferred by letter from the First Presbyterian Church of Canton, which Calvary may indeed refer to as her "mother church".

Services were first held in the Grand Opera House of Canton until a new church could be constructed on the Northeast corner of Sixth Street and Market Avenue, North. Much credit for the building of this structure must be given to Dr. H. Clay Ferguson, Calvary's first Pastor, who also came to Calvary from the First Presbyterian Church of Canton.

Some funds for the new building were raised by the ladies of the church who put up a big tent on the church lot and sold lunches to the people attending the "McKinley Front Porch Campaign" which was held a few blocks farther North on Market Avenue. The church also produced what were called amateur theatricals, one such "opera" having a cast of over 600 members.

At eleven minutes before four o'clock on a Sunday afternoon in 1898, the corner stone of the new church was settled into place. "All Hail The Power Of Jesus' Name" was sung, and various members of the congregation participated in the program. The organ, a gift of Andrew Carnegie, was purchased for the church in Philadelphia at a cost of "not less than $4,500.00". This was quite the newsworthy item, and the local papers had much to say about this transaction. The Market Avenue site would serve as Calvary's address for the next twenty years.

In 1909, The Rev. Edwin B. Townsend came directly from seminary and was ordained at Calvary Church and installed as its Pastor. He became a leader in the community "Anti-Vice Crusade". On Novemver 7, 1912, the newspaper headlines read, "Church At Sixth And Market Damaged By Dynamite." There were no clues. But as Pastor Townsend had received many personal threats, he felt the damage had been caused by those individuals who had been most affected by the Anti-Vice Crusade. His reply to the bombing was, "Our work must go on." Repairs were made to the church and Pastor Townsend continued his service to the Lord and Calvary.

The Rev. Harry Vail became Pastor on June 17, 1916, and set about the task of leading the congregation into its new building program. They selected a new site at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Shorb Avenue, NW, and work began on the new sanctuary. The work was halted when World War I left the construction temporarily without the needed structural steel.

One August, 17, 1918, the first service was held in the new sanctuary, "a large, well-lighted room with a large sky light" as it was described by one of the local newspapers. This service honored Leroy Hahn, a member of the congregation serving with the 145 Ambulance Company in France. A copper box from the original church with updated materials and names added was placed in the new building corner stone. This "new" Shorb Avenue address and building continue to serve Calvary and its neighborhood today.

From 1929 to 1967, The Reverend John Barker, D.D., was God's servant and Pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church. Part of the history written during the Golden Anniversary of the congregation commented, "We honor John Barker who labored, often against tremendous difficulties, to fulfill a mission of Christian service in our city. He gave without measure his time and talent. He knew that Calvary could go on witnessing for her Lord."

Many old groups continued service and many new groups were added throughout the mid-Twentieth Century. Youth Groups began, new Sunday School classes developed, men's and women's organizations were active, and Calvary's music and Bible School continued to grow. In 1950, Calvary added twelve Sunday School rooms, a wedding chapel, and new church offices.

As members of Calvary faced challenges in the first decade of this century, we do so in the last. Even with the changing of nearby neighborhoods and suburban churches continuing to beckon new members, Calvary has remained committed to its place as THE neighborhood church whose neighborhood is the City. Opportunities lie ahead for Calvary. Under the guidance of Pastor C. David Morgan and through the help of our Lord, we will endeavor to seek the role of ministry of Calvary Church and our church's place in our ever-changing community.

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