History Of Lakewood Congregational Church

Lakewood 1905
Religious Center is the Disciple Church
Congregational families held prayer meetings at the homes of Lawrence Bramley, the Wright’s, the Eddy’s and the Hoffman’s.

Rev. William C. Detling conducted meetings to appeal to the Congregational City Missionary Society of Cleveland for help in establishing a Lakewood Congregational Church.

December 8, 1905
The Lakewood Congregational Church was organized December 8th, 1905 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Newell. With a charter membership of twenty-seven, meetings were held in the homes of its members, and in rented halls for the first year. 

Formal Beginnings 1906-1908
At the Disciple Church (Detroit  and Park Row), the new church was received into the Congregational fellowship on December 21, 1905. A pastor was not yet called, so Rev. LeRoy Royce, Moderator, assumed the care of the church until Rev. Benjamin A. Williams was called as the pastor in April 1906. At this time, LCC had 34 adult members and 48 Sunday School attendees. 

The Temporary Chapel 1906-1915
LCC’s first building of its own was a portable chapel 25X50 feet in dimensions (pictured below). The chapel was placed on rented ground on the corner of West Clifton and Detroit, which was later purchased to build the permanent church building. 

Early Pastors 1906-1911
In the early years, LCC had several short term pastors who helped the church form its roots: Rev. Benjamin A. Williams (April 1906-February 1908),  Rev. Ross W. Sanderson (April 1908-October 1909), and Rev. Edgar E. Scovill (January 1910-December 1911). By the end of Rev. Scovill’s tenure, LCC had about 82 adult members and 152 Sunday School attendees. 

Planning and Building Our Permanent Church Building 
In 1912, under the leadership of Rev. George LeGrand Smith (July 1912-December 1917) the Building Committee purchased the land at the Northeast corner of West Clifton and Detroit, and began making plans for our permanent building. 

W.H. Nicklas was chosen to be the architect, and approximately $100,000 was raised for land, construction, and furnishings. The basement was completed in March 1915, and our cornerstone was laid on August 8, 1915. Through this time, LCC had about 270 members. 

1920s-1950s
In the next few decades, we saw rapid expansion for the church, during which membership grew from 364 to over 1500 members. 

Through the Great Depression, LCC maintained its reputation as a gathering place for Christian Fellowship, providing opportunities for connection and friendship during a challenging time. 

On March 15, 1947,  a “Mortgage Burning Ceremony” took place, celebrating that the original cost of the building was fully paid off. 

Building Expansion: Chapel and Education Wing
1954-1955
Jaeckel Organ Installed in Chapel in 1995

Founding of Haynes Nursery School
Mrs. Marjorie Haynes, Director of Christian Education from 1957-1969, was a gifted leader for LCC’s “church school” on Sunday mornings. She saw a need for early childhood education and began a weekday preschool for children ages 3-5 in 1966. Haynes Nursery School became a vital outreach program of the church in the community. Haynes was rebranded as Haynes Preschool in 2025, but remains a vital part of Lakewood Congregational Church. 

Our Church Organs

Our 1916 Austin Organ was replaced with our current Schantz Organ in 1966. 

Open and Affirming Covenant
Studied, discussed, and established in 2005. 
Updated to include language specific to Gender Identity and Expression in 2023. 

Social Hall, Kitchen, and West Clifton Entryway Renovation
2023-2024
Give, Gather, Grow Capital Campaign
Arcus Architects, Inc., Richardson Design, Fortney and Weygandt General Contractor

Pastors and Pastoral Staff History at Lakewood Congregational Church

Pastor Benjamin A. (Allen) Williams | April 1906 to February 1909

The Reverend Ross W. Sanderson | April 1908 to October 1909

The Reverend Edgar E. (Elnathan) Scovill | January 1910 to December 1911

The Reverend G. (George) LeGrand Smith | July 1912 to December 1917

          Mr. Ira B. Penniman, Choir Director/organist | December 1917 to October 1918

The Reverend Dr. Roy E. Bowers | May 1918 to November 1939

          The Reverend Thomas W. Davies, Assistant Pastor | 1924 to Summer 1927

          The Reverend William G. Schneider, Assistant Pastor | Autumn 1927 to 1933

          The Reverend Merrell M. Brammer, Assistant Pastor | September 1937 to June 1950

          Mr. Maynard England, Organist/Choir Director | January 1920 to June 1931

The Reverend Dr. Everett Wilmer MacNair | December 1939 to December 1948

          Dr. George O. Lillich, Minister of Music and Organist | June 1931 to September 1951

The Reverend Dr. George E. Drew | May 1949 to August 1970

          Mrs. Marjorie Haynes, Director of Religious Education | October 1957 to June 1969

          Dr. Robert Chapman, Director of Music | August 1969 to September 1978

The Reverend Donald W. Morgan | September 1971 to May 1978

The Reverend Dr. Lyman G. Farrar | April 1979 to September 1994

          The Reverend Laurinda M. Hafner, Associate Minister | September 1979 to June 1987

          The Reverend Kelly Peters, Associate Minister | June 1988 to December 1994

          Dr. Robert Schneider, Director of Music Ministries | May 1979 to September 1993

The Reverend Alexander Campbell, Interim Minister | October 1994 to August 1995

          The Rev. Rosemary Iha, Associate and Interim Minister | January 1995 to November 1996

The Reverend A. Dale Stohre | November 1995 to June 2000 

          The Reverend Pamela Canzater Cheney, Associate Minister | January 1998 to June 2002

The Reverend Martha Chenault, Interim Minister | November 2001 to April 2004

The Reverend Mark Thomas | September 2004 to May 2018

          Larry Picard, Director of Music Ministry

          Patti Komperda, Director of Children’s Ministry 

          Ben Malkevitch, Director of Music Ministries 

The Rev. Joanna D’Agostino | June 2018 to Present

          Rachel Burns, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries | July 2019 to Present

          The Rev. Catherine Lawrence, Minister for Health and Wholeness | November 2022 to January 2025