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An Architectural Tour of Pilgrim Church ...
The American Institute of Architects in Cleveland Honors Pilgrim
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Laying The Foundation ...
Pilgrim
Church was founded in 1859. Of the 34 charter members, 5 were Wesley
Methodist, 10 Methodist Episcopal, 4 Presbyterian, and 11 Congregational. Many
doubted that a church with such diversified ideas on religion would hold
together, but it did ... and flourished, eventually becoming part of the
United Church of Christ.
In 1865, two lots at the
corner of Howard and Jennings (now West 14th) were donated to build a church.
The basement was finished in 1866, and the upper auditorium was finished
in 1869, at a cost of $16,000.
In 1891, the congregation voted to build a new larger church, and the original
building was sold to St. Augustine Catholic Church.
As an “Institutional Church,” Pilgrim needed
a new building conducive to worship, education, the arts, and to service a
rapidly urbanizing, industrializing neighborhood which was receiving immigrants
from many countries. (Immigrant records kept at Pilgrim are now housed at the
Western Reserve Historical Society).
This building would:
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House the area’s first library and
kindergarten; |
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Become a home to health, welfare and social
service societies, and the first Boy Scout troop in Cleveland; |
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Offer classes in music, languages,
photography, sewing, stenography, bookkeeping, penmanship, mechanical
drawing, gardening, and Bible study. |
Continued |
