CHRIST CHURCH
EPISCOPAL
2627 Atlantic Street, NE
Warren, Ohio 44483
330-372-4998
Established 1836
Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future
History
OUR HISTORY
Christ Church was founded in 1836. Thirty seven years after the settlement of Warren, Ohio. Warren was, then, the most important town in the area, and the county seat of Trumbull County which originally contained all of the Connecticut Western Reserve.
In 1845, a lot on the corner of Liberty (now South Park Avenue) & Franklin Streets was purchased for $600 dollars in gold. On September 1, 1847 the cornerstone was laid for the first building. The first service was during the summer of 1848 and it was consecrated on September 23, 1849.
Over the years the congregation soon outgrew the building and plans were being made to enlarge it. However, on the day of the meeting to discuss the contracts - April 30, 1860 - a major fire in downtown Warren postponed their plans. In 1862 a decision was made instead to build a new church.
The old church was sold June 22, 1863 to the Roman Catholic Congregation and possession was given April 1864 thus becoming the first Roman Catholic Church in town.
The second building, on High Street, was begun in 1863. The cornerstone was laid on May 14, 1863 and the building was consecrated May 24, 1865. This building, of handsome gothic design, planned by Architect J. H. Blackburn of Cleveland, Ohio was in continuous use for over 90 years. The original cost of the building was $17,410.56. The spire, being made of bricks, began to disintegrate. So, it was removed in the 1920s.
The tower bells were dedicated Easter Day, 1926. They were installed in the belfry by J. Ward Pachard as a memorial to his his mother, Mrs. Warren Packard. The Packards were well-known for the automobiles that bore their name.
In 1957 groundbreaking for the present building was held June 16th. The church on High Street had become unstable when the beams holding the roof began to bow outward and the building became unsafe. Large metal wires were installed inside to keep the walls from buckling. On October 6, 1957 the cornerstone was laid for Old Christ Church Chapel. The furnishing and woodwork and stained glass from the High Street Church were used and remain there today. Pieces from the old church were incorporated into areas of the church such as the Altar Piece in the Children's Chapel that had been a side altar on High Street. Priceless stained glass from High Street was also used in this chapel and remains there today. The new church took nine years to build due to it's enormous size. The structure was built in two phases so the main services were held in the Parish Hall from 1958 until the Nave was completed in 1966. The first service in the completed church was held on Christmas Eve, 1966. It was dedicated on May 7, 1967. The world-famous architect, H. Wagoner, who won many awards during his career designed the complex, which covers twleve acres. Bishop John H. Hart said of the completed church: "You have achieved in contemporary form as exciting a church as I have seen done anywhere. It is reverent, gives a sense of uplift, and yet captures the new liturgical sense of the table in the midst of the people. The stone gives a sense of strength of the faith, and the colors cast upon the walls from the stained glass windows conveys a beauty that inhibits any sense of severity.
Christ Church was founded in 1836. Thirty seven years after the settlement of Warren, Ohio. Warren was, then, the most important town in the area, and the county seat of Trumbull County which originally contained all of the Connecticut Western Reserve.
In 1845, a lot on the corner of Liberty (now South Park Avenue) & Franklin Streets was purchased for $600 dollars in gold. On September 1, 1847 the cornerstone was laid for the first building. The first service was during the summer of 1848 and it was consecrated on September 23, 1849.
Over the years the congregation soon outgrew the building and plans were being made to enlarge it. However, on the day of the meeting to discuss the contracts - April 30, 1860 - a major fire in downtown Warren postponed their plans. In 1862 a decision was made instead to build a new church.
The old church was sold June 22, 1863 to the Roman Catholic Congregation and possession was given April 1864 thus becoming the first Roman Catholic Church in town.
The second building, on High Street, was begun in 1863. The cornerstone was laid on May 14, 1863 and the building was consecrated May 24, 1865. This building, of handsome gothic design, planned by Architect J. H. Blackburn of Cleveland, Ohio was in continuous use for over 90 years. The original cost of the building was $17,410.56. The spire, being made of bricks, began to disintegrate. So, it was removed in the 1920s.
The tower bells were dedicated Easter Day, 1926. They were installed in the belfry by J. Ward Pachard as a memorial to his his mother, Mrs. Warren Packard. The Packards were well-known for the automobiles that bore their name.
In 1957 groundbreaking for the present building was held June 16th. The church on High Street had become unstable when the beams holding the roof began to bow outward and the building became unsafe. Large metal wires were installed inside to keep the walls from buckling. On October 6, 1957 the cornerstone was laid for Old Christ Church Chapel. The furnishing and woodwork and stained glass from the High Street Church were used and remain there today. Pieces from the old church were incorporated into areas of the church such as the Altar Piece in the Children's Chapel that had been a side altar on High Street. Priceless stained glass from High Street was also used in this chapel and remains there today. The new church took nine years to build due to it's enormous size. The structure was built in two phases so the main services were held in the Parish Hall from 1958 until the Nave was completed in 1966. The first service in the completed church was held on Christmas Eve, 1966. It was dedicated on May 7, 1967. The world-famous architect, H. Wagoner, who won many awards during his career designed the complex, which covers twleve acres. Bishop John H. Hart said of the completed church: "You have achieved in contemporary form as exciting a church as I have seen done anywhere. It is reverent, gives a sense of uplift, and yet captures the new liturgical sense of the table in the midst of the people. The stone gives a sense of strength of the faith, and the colors cast upon the walls from the stained glass windows conveys a beauty that inhibits any sense of severity.
