A History of the Bloomville United Church of Christ
Originally Written by: Mabel Adams for the 125 Anniversary Celebration.
Later additions were added to her original text.
The Bloomville United Church of Christ had its beginning as the German Reformed Church at Mount Pisgah, located on North Marion Street, on the 25th day of August 1850. The pastor was Reverend H. K. Baines, and the church had nine members. This first church was completed and dedicated on Christmas Day of 1850 with a membership of thirty-four. In 1874, the congregation resolved to change the name to the Reformed Church.
This first house of worship was totally destroyed by fire on Feb. 11, 1900 at 7:30 p.m. No doubt many injuries were avoided as the minister had cancelled the evening services due to a throat condition.
While a new location for the building of a new church was being considered, services were held at the Miller Opera House, which stood for many years on the location where the Hamilton home now stands. (Near the corner of Marion and New Haven Streets.) By 1900, the site of the present church was decided on, and the cornerstone of the new church was laid on August 3, 1901 and dedicated on October 5, 1902.
Mr. Fred Sievert was the contractor, and the new building was erected of Bloomville limestone. The minister at this time was Rev. D. A. Parks who served this church from 1886 to 1903. The membership now was two hundred forty members. The new church was built at a cost of $11,300.00. This entire amount was raised by subscription, and the new building was completed practically free of debt.
These dates may be of interest:
1904 the parsonage was built and dedicated.
1906 more hitching posts were needed for the horses.
1907 Andrew Carnegie gave a sum of money to various cities for libraries and a committee from the church contacted him and procured an amount for a payment on a new pipe organ. The congregation raised the amount to match this money given by Mr. Carnegie and the new pipe organ was installed. Rev. E. M. Beck was now the pastor. Mrs. Edith Kirkpatrick was our first organist. She had three pupils from our church: Fannie Behm-Zimmer, Fred Spitler, and myself (Mabel Adams).
During the years of 1923 to 1927 a member of our church, Irma Ohl Tisinger served as a minister in China. She served in Lochow(?) until 1927 when the Communists started to come from the north. At that time the Foreign Missionary Board ordered all missionaries home.
On October 30, 1930, the church celebrated its eightieth anniversary, the membership now being around three hundred. During these eighty years the Bloomville Reformed Church had shone steady growth. This eightieth anniversary was celebrated on November 30th.
The Reverend George H. Sonder, D.D. began his ministry at this church in 1923, when the seventy-fifth anniversary was celebrated. He served from 1923 to 1934, celebrating his fifty years in the ministry and living here (Bloomville) during his retirement and death.
In 1934, the Reformed Church united with the Evangelical Church; the name was changed to the Evangelical Reformed Church, which was called by most people “the E & R Church”.
Reverend Walter Ott came to serve as minister in 1947, and was here until 1953. During this ministry (in 1950) the congregation celebrated its one 100th anniversary on September 10th.
In 1948, new red choir robes were also purchased, and pews took the place of chairs in the choir loft. Also, now printed bulletins were being used. I know many of the present members remember the red velvet shield around the choir space.
In 1946, two young men from the congregation entered college to study the ministry and have followed this profession for many years. We know they have served their various congregations very ably. These young men are here today to help with this 125th celebration and birthday. Russell Behm, son of Mrs. Inez Behm (and the late Harvey Behm) and Paul Deppen, who will bring us a message. In 1952, these men were ordained in this their home church.
In June 1953, Reverend Henry Blum became our minister and served our church for 17 years. In January 1972 Rev. Blum was named Pastor Emeritus.
Sometime following the centennial, the Evangelical Reformed Church merged with the Congregational Christian Church, and our name changed to The United Church of Christ.
In the late spring of 1959 a preliminary plan for the building of the Fellowship Hall began to take shape, and the plan was accepted by the congregation. It was decided to proceed in the spring of 1962. The contract was given to Mr. Stacey Haun of Shelby. Groundbreaking took place on September 2, 1962. It was completed the following May and dedicated on October 27th, 1963. In 1973, at the Christmas Eve service, the mortgage of fellowship hall was burned in an impressive service. In 1974 Fellowship Hall was rededicated, naming it Blum Memorial Hall.
Pastor Joe Foster came to our church in 1970 and was here for 4 years.
Following Pastor Foster was Pastor Dan Cheatham, next Pastor Bob Markwood, then Rev. Jeff King and then Pastor Diane Groman. In 2001 Pastor Cathy Wirth became our interim minister and in 2007 she became our full time minister.
From 1970 until the present we have had many project and missions. The Village Day Care Center served community children utilizing space in our Sunday School wing. Our church has housed a food and a non-food item pantry through the years. We have installed new carpet, a sound system and two new boilers. We have made our sanctuary handicapped accessible. Memorials have been given for new hymnals, a large projection screen for the sanctuary, and a new light in the Narthex to name a few.