Photo courtesy of Rick Zimmerman, The Examiner

Photo courtesy of Rick Zimmerman, The Examiner

Willoughby Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as a class in 1818 by the Rev. Ira Eddy, a young itinerant preacher of the Western Reserve. The class included a number of families who had come to this wilderness region from western New York State. By 1822, the class had grown to be a Society with its own local preacher, the Rev. Elijah Ward, a preacher with regularly-appointed circuit riders.

In 1821, the Willoughby Ridge Society was formed, and it was united with the Willoughby Society in the Willoughby Circuit. This lasted until 1904. At that time the Willoughby Church was large enough to support its own minister. The Ridge Church was made a station (in contrast to being on a circuit with other congregations) and ultimately was united with the Willoughby Church in 1924. Years later, following the national union of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the church became known as the Willoughby United Methodist Church.

In the late 1800s there were several organizations for the women of the church: The Ladies’ Aid Society, the Women’s Home Missionary Society, and the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society. It was not until 1917 that the Methodist Men’s Meetings were arranged to offer something of a social nature for the men.

The first church building was built in 1834. It was used until 1873, when it was sold to the Christian Church and moved one block away. The second building was dedicated in October of 1875. Within the next thirty years, the congregation had outgrown this facility, especially in the sanctuary and the Sunday school classrooms.

The present church building, made possible by a gift from Mrs. Julia Boyce, was built in 1906. It included the sanctuary and a parsonage located next door to the church. Following World War II, the community grew, and the church became filled with new families. The sanctuary and Sunday school rooms were overflowing, and more space was needed. By 1956, the present educational unit was built. Also during that time period, a new parsonage was built on Waldamere Avenue, and the former parsonage, next door to the church, was remodeled into a small worship area, with a capacity of 40-50 worshippers, known as the Van Gorder Chapel.  Then in 1963, the sanctuary was remodeled and Fellowship Hall was enlarged.

Willoughby United Methodist, on the square in downtown Willoughby, will be open for tours of the beautiful, historic building during the Willoughby Arts Fest on July 18.   Group tour times are not set yet but people will be on hand to talk about the building anytime from 10am to 5pm.

Submitted by Sally Kennedy and the Willoughby United Methodist Church