Congregational Union of Cleveland Churches

Organized in 1853, as the Cleveland Congregational Conference, to oversee the organization of new churches and the mergers of existing churches, and to provide financial assistance. In 1912 it merged with the City Missionary Society to form the Congregational Union of Cleveland. In 1963 the Union was merged into the Western Reserve Association of the United Church of Christ.

From the description of Records 1880-1963. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 18242640

The Congregational Union of Cleveland Churches was originally known as the Cleveland Congregational Conference. It was organized in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1853 and became a member of the Ohio Conference of Congregational Churches the next year. The Conference's aim was the promotion, expansion, and control of the denominational rights of the Congregational churches located in Cleveland. By overseeing the organization of new churches and the mergers of existing churches, and by providing financial assistance, the Conference hoped to make each Congregational church an influential force in its community.

With the growth of Cleveland's population due to European immigration following the American Civil War, the work of the Cleveland Congregational Conference became more urgent. In 1892, the Conference formed the City Missionary Society, which was to be a separate entity, and hired a superintendent to organize churches in immigrant neighborhoods. In 1911, however, the Ohio Conference forced a reorganization of the Cleveland Congregational Conference and the City Missionary Society. The state Conference transferred the jurisdiction over all dependent Cleveland Congregational churches and all funds for their support to the City Missionary Society. Left without funding, the Cleveland Conference negotiated with the City Missionary Society, and in 1922 they became one organization, the Congregational Union of Cleveland.

In 1957, the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged to form the United Church of Christ. The merger was on a national level, and individual churches, associations, and conferences were not part of the merger unless they voted to join the United Church of Christ. In 1963 a merger on the local level occurred when the Congregational Union of Cleveland, along with other Congregational associations, which included the Medina, Grand River, and Plymouth Rock Associations, merged with the Northeast Ohio Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the Western Reserve Association of the United Church of Christ. The Congregational Union of Cleveland ceased to exist as a separate entity and its work, as well as its records, were turned over to the Western Reserve Association of the United Church of Christ.

From the guide to the Congregational Union of Cleveland Churches Records, 1880-1963, 1910-1960, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Congregational Union of Cleveland Churches was originally known as the Cleveland Congregational Conference. It was organized in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1853 and became a member of the Ohio Conference of Congregational Churches the next year. The Conference's aim was the promotion, expansion, and control of the denominational rights of the Congregational churches located in Cleveland. By overseeing the organization of new churches and the mergers of existing churches, and by providing financial assistance, the Conference hoped to make each Congregational church an influential force in its community.

With the growth of Cleveland's population due to European immigration following the American Civil War, the work of the Cleveland Congregational Conference became more urgent. In 1892, the Conference formed the City Missionary Society, which was to be a separate entity, and hired a superintendent to organize churches in immigrant neighborhoods. In 1911, however, the Ohio Conference forced a reorganization of the Cleveland Congregational Conference and the City Missionary Society. The state Conference transferred the jurisdiction over all dependent Cleveland Congregational churches and all funds for their support to the City Missionary Society. Left without funding, the Cleveland Conference negotiated with the City Missionary Society, and in 1922 they became one organization, the Congregational Union of Cleveland.

In 1957, the Congregational Christian Church and the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged to form the United Church of Christ. The merger was on a national level, and individual churches, associations, and conferences were not part of the merger unless they voted to join the United Church of Christ. In 1963 a merger on the local level occurred when the Congregational Union of Cleveland, along with other Congregational associations, which included the Medina, Grand River, and Plymouth Rock Associations, merged with the Northeast Ohio Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the Western Reserve Association of the United Church of Christ. The Congregational Union of Cleveland ceased to exist as a separate entity and its work, as well as its records, were turned over to the Western Reserve Association of the United Church of Christ.

From the guide to the Congregational Union of Cleveland Churches Photographs, 1890-1960, (Western Reserve Historical Society)