Family ties still binding Grace UCC after 125 years
Amy L. Knapp IndeOnline.com staff writer
"Everyone here seems to be related to each other," Patricia Close said of the west Massillon church.
MASSILLON Family connections bind the congregation of Grace United Church of Christ.
"Everyone here seems to be related to each other," church member Patricia Close said. "I'm not. I'm an orphan."
Close began attending the church after her birth in 1952. Her mother had purchased a home on the city's west side just a block from the church when Close was 2 months old.
Sitting inside the decades-old sanctuary, the chair of the church's outreach committee recounted the family ties among today's members.
Generations of families can be traced among the congregation, she said. Cousins Stan Crofut and Ken Keller, for example.
Their ties to the church date back to its beginnings. Their ancestors are listed among the founders of the church, which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.
Last weekend, a worship service recognized those founding members and their relatives.
The 82-year-old Crofut never knew his father's parents. Arvine and Serena Crofut died long before the younger Crofut was a thought.
"My grandmother died when my dad was very young and his father died when he was 8," he said.
It wasn't until his family began going to the church in the 1950s, Crofut realized his family is connected to the congregation's earliest members.
"I got involved (in the church) and I saw a list of charter members. My family was on there," he said.
Besides his grandparents, also listed as founding members were M.E. and Nora Dinisus. Crofut isn't sure how they are related, but his grandmother's (Serena) maiden name was Dinisus.
Other names on the list were Samuel and Sarah Kandle. The Tuscarwas Township resident knows his family member, Sarah Dinisus, married into the Kandle family.
Keller, the great-grandson of Arvine and Serena Crofut, said he began attending the church in his teens when he was confirmed in 1959.
While his grandmother, Myrtle, died the year he was born, Keller knew she attended the church and that his family's participation in the house of prayer dated back many years.
Keller said his connection to Grace United Church of Christ goes further than DNA. He considers the membership of the church his family.
It's one of the things that makes the church close-knit congregation unique.
"It's friendly and full of goodness," he said.
Setting down roots
In 1893, the Board of General Synod of the Reformed Church selected Massillon as a suitable place for a mission Reformed Church.
The Rev. W.H. Shults, a missionary, set up shop on the west end. With a $600 annual appropriation from the Mission Board, Shults conducted the first service on Nov. 1, 1893, in a vacant storeroom. Twelve adults and five children attended. A few months later, the church — then know as First Reformed Church — was organized with 42 charter members, including the Crofuts on Feb. 22, 1894.
In its earliest days, the congregation held services at the United Brethren Church at West Main and Wooster (now Lincoln Way W) streets — land now occupied by Hi-Way Tire. The church rented the space until purchasing the building later that year.
According to church historians, discussions were held several times about building a new church to accommodate the growing congregation. For various reasons, including the start of World War I, the subject was dropped.
Despite no plans to build at the time, the forward-thinking Rev. J.P. Alden established a building fund in 1918. The fund grew and with the sale of the church property at Lincoln Way and Main several years later, very little debt was taken on when the present-day church was constructed in 1931.
Six years prior, talk to construct the new church began again, but nothing took hold until an offer of $22,000 came in 1930 for the land on which the church sat. Church members agreed to sell.
The new church would be constructed on Main Street where the church's parsonage was. Its cornerstone was installed June 14, 1931. During construction, the congregation met in Lorin Andrews School.
Dedication services were held Nov. 2, 1931.
The church was built and furnished at a cost of $66,500. With the funding from the sale of the former church property and the building fund, about $15,000 remained on the mortgage.
By its 50th anniversary, the mortgage was paid off and the paperwork was burned during a ceremony.
In 1940, the church name was changed to Grace Evangelical and Reformed and later took on its present name — Grace United Church of Christ — in 1957.
Paint has been updated over the years as well as carpeting, Close said. The organ was relocated from the front of the church to the choir loft.
Several ministers have led the church, including the Rev. James Painting and his wife, Elaine.
Painting was pastor from 2002 to 2006, and again in 2017 on a part-time basis when the church was left without a leader.
Crofut said one of the most memorable church leaders was the Rev. Barry Stirbens, who is blind.
"It was amazing how he could navigate around here," Crofut said. "He would whistle to himself and be able to tell when he was getting close to the back (of the sanctuary). He said the sound would change."
Close called Stirbens an inspiration. The former pastor returned to the church earlier this year to celebrate the anniversary.
Women's teas, special holiday events, Army wives meetings and many other occasions have been hosted as the church through the years.
"Years ago the church was way bigger in everyone's lives," Close said. "I don't know what's happening now."
While the congregation continues to age and dwindle, Crofut said, they remain an active church in the community.
A free community breakfast takes place from 10 a.m. to noon the fourth Saturday of each month. Vacation Bible School, rummage sales, a fall craft show, Swiss steak dinners and a fall festival hosted by the church all are activities that help keep it at the forefront.
"There's a lot going on for a small congregation," he said.
Worship services are 9 a.m. Sundays where new families are always welcome.
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