Williard Reformed Church (Akron, OH)

Collection

Identifier: Church RG 565

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Williard United Church of Christ, formerly Williard Reformed Church collection contains; Annual Reports, 1938-2018 Bulletins, Church Records, 1914-2017 Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths, Communicants Congregational Meetings, Constitution. Financial Records History Legal Records Constitution Newsletters Newspaper Clippings Pastors Photographs Programs - Scrapbook Committees; Consistory Auxiliary Organizations

Dates

Creation: 1914 - 2018

Biographical / Historical

Previously Williard Reformed Church. In 1914 plans for establishing a new church in Akron were proposed by Home Mission Board of the Reformed Church. Rev. Samuel Isenberg was the first pastor. The Sunday School was organized in a private residence on March 22, 1914. Ground was broken on Johnston Street on July 12, 1914 and a cornerstone laid. The congregation began with 41 members in November. The building was dedicated on Jan. 24, 1915. The church was named after Edwin Rush Williard who served as pastor of Grace Church from 1891-1899. From then until 1909 he helped organize and served six other Reformed churches in the Akron area. The church was enlarged in 1930 and the mortgage was burned in 1944. Another key pastor was Rev. Francis Schmuck (1943-1960)(SEE Ms. Coll. 393) who helped to clear all debts and observed the 30th Anniversary of the Williard Church. Rev. Schmuck was instrumental in making the church self supporting, promoted the installation of a new heating system, a pipe organ and chimes and began the "Friendship Mitten Tree" project.