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A HISTORY OF
 PARMA-SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

How did Parma-South get its name? It is the result of the merger of two Presbyterian churches --Parma Presbyterian and South Presbyterian -- and as in many modern-day marriages, it took a hyphenated name.

The older of the two churches, Parma Presbyterian Church, was organized by the Presbytery on Nov. 7, 1835, not as a Presbyterian church, but as a Congregational church.  Twelve people joined that day, eleven by letter of transfer from other Congregational churches and one by confession of faith. It was possible to have a Congregational church under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery because of an 1801 agreement between the two denominations that their ministers could serve either church. The first services were held in a log school house that stood where the Parma Heights Cemetery is today. Officially incorporated in 1839, the congregation built its own building in 1841. Several names of early members are recognizable to us today, including J.A. Ackley and Amos Dennison, for whom two area streets are named. Of particular note is that our continuous Memorial Day Services were begun by this group in 1868.

The Parma Presbyterian Church built on Wooster Pike (now Pearl Rd.) in 1900

On April 3, 1874, following a tent evangelism meeting organized by the Presbytery, the church became Presbyterian. It was known by several names: The First Presbyterian Church and Society of Parma, The Parma Presbyterian Church, or the First Presbyterian Church of Parma. The last minister of the Congregational church became the first minister of the Presbyterian Church -- the Rev. Augustus Cone.

The history of the Parma church is one of rapid change. In 1898 the church building was destroyed by fire. Two years later the congregation dedicated a new building, which stood just south of the current “in” drive. In 1901 a parsonage was built where the south parking lot is located today. Until 1914 ministers came and went, some lasting only a few months, others a couple of years.

Dr. Howard B. Withers 1929 - 1966

A new era began in 1914. That year The Rev. Ozra Newcomb was called to serve. He was the first pastor to stay longer then four years. The pastor, who kept a cow and a hive of bees, stayed 14 years. Then on Jan. 6, 1929, The Rev. Howard B. Withers accepted a call that lasted 37 years and included the building of the education building in 1933 (gym and office/classroom area above), the merger of the two churches, and the eventual construction of the current sanctuary.

The Church School unit of The Parma Presbyterian Church built in 1933

The first building of The South Presbyterian Church - 1892

The other church, the South Presbyterian Church, began in 1892 as a mission group called The Presbyterian Union. Until the congregation built a four-room building at Scranton and Prame in Cleveland, it met in a funeral home. The first full-time minister, the Rev. James Corwin, died of typhoid fever just six months after being installed.

Second building at Scranton and Prame Avenues, Cleveland - Dedicated on October 1, 1905

Despite this tragedy, the congregation grew rapidly, even moving and then selling the original church building and constructing a new building on the old site. However, over the next twenty years the neighborhood changed. Members of the church moved to the suburbs, and Roman Catholic families moved in. The membership of the South Church declined so drastically that in 1935 the Cleveland Presbytery recommended the merger of South Presbyterian Church with Parma Presbyterian.

In 1937 the new congregation, the peaceful blending of two churches, was created. The Rev. Howard B. Withers, pastor of the Parma church, became the first pastor of the new Parma-South Presbyterian Church. During his tenure, the congregation grew from that of a country church of about 250 members to a large, urban-sized church of more than 2400 members.

Steeple of the old church building being dismantled in 1950

On May 14, 1951, the steeple of the present church was raised into place.

Several factors were responsible for the tremendous growth of the church. One was the community’s growth by “leaps and bounds.” In the 1950s, the population of Parma tripled. Other large factors were Dr. Withers’ charisma and the location of the church. The little white church by the “in” drive was no longer large enough. In 1951 a new sanctuary was dedicated. Even it was not large enough to accommodate the large attendance, especially on holidays. Because the membership grew so large, two services of worship were held each Sunday morning, at 9:30 and 11:15, beginning in 1946. In the 1960s Christmas Eve was expanded to four services and Easter Sunday to three. Chairs were put down the side of the center aisle, and closed circuit televisions were set up in the gym and Westminster Room (library) to accommodate the huge attendance on Easter. Associate pastors were added. At one time there were three associates -- four ministers total.

Other changes took place in the decades to follow. The current pipe organ was installed (1960), Dr. Withers retired in 1966 and the Rev. Dr. Alexander C. Meakin was called as head of staff.

The Rev. Samuel C. Mckee 1954-57	The Rev. Jon Clifton 1970-72	The Rev. James Regester 1956-68	The Rev. Dr. Alexander Meakin 1966—1986

The Rev. Robert H. Bates 1968-1984

The Rev. Anna K. Baker 1977-1981

The Rev. Malcolm K. Shields 1971-2001

The Rev. Charles L. Barnett 1984

The Rev. Robert Bates joined the staff in 1968, and the Rev. Malcolm Shields in 1972. In 1977 the Rev. Anna K. Baker was installed as the associate pastor of Christian education, the first woman to be called by Parma-South. She had been serving as director of Christian education, but when the General Assembly eliminated the position, she took advantage of its offer to complete work for ordination. She left Parma-South in 1982. Following the retirement of the Rev. Bates, the Rev. Charles Barnett was called to serve as associate pastor. He died suddenly within his first year.

The Rev. James A. Schumacher 1987-1991

The Rev. James Schumacher was then called. He left in 1991, after the death of his wife, to serve a church in Zanesville, Ohio.

The Rev. H. G. Wardlaw, Jr. 1986-1997

The retirement of Dr. Meakin in 1986, after twenty years of service to Parma-South, led to an interim period headed by the Rev. Malcolm Shields and the eventual call to the Rev. H.G. Wardlaw to serve as head of staff. Under “G,” the church facilities were given a face lift through the Dreams Campaign -- painting and carpeting of the education wing and lower hall under the sanctuary as well as painting of the sanctuary. The sanctuary was later recarpeted. Also, the Rev. Nona Holy became the second woman to be installed as associate pastor of Parma-South. She served as minister of Christian education until she left in 1999.

The Rev. Nona Holy 1992-1999	The Rev. Robert Barnes 1992-1998	The Rev. Robert Haring 1992-1998

Rev. Edgar “Ted” Jones 1997-2000

Rev. Edgar "Ted" Jones took the leadership in 1997. During his two and one-half years of service, a capital campaign was held, raising funds for mission, communications equipment, rebuilding of the organ, and the addition of an elevator and lift, plus the addition of a handicapped restroom off the Narthex. Also, during this interim period, an informal worship service called First Light was started. It began in the dining room, which it quickly outgrew, and moved to the social hall (gym), where it is still held. There are still two worship services each Sunday morning; the early one is informal and the other traditional.

The Rev. O. Lee Holliday 2000-2004

The Rev. William Keene 2002 -Present

In March 2000 the Rev. Dr. Oris Lee Holliday was called to serve as head of staff. He served until July, 2004.  The retirement of the Rev. Mr. Shields in 2001 left the church with only one minister. The Rev. William C. Keene was hired to serve as parish associate, a position he holds today.  

The Rev. Gary L. Burnett 2004-2007

The Rev. Gary L. Burnett began an interim position on October 1, 2004. He retired on December 31, 2007, due to illness. Rev. William Keene moved up as Acting Head of Staff until a Head of Staff was hired.

Rev. Mark L. Juengel, Head of Staff April 1, 2008 - Present Time

On April 1, 2008, the Rev. Mark L. Juengel, began as Head of Staff. Also on staff are the Rev. William Keene, Parish Associate, and Mrs. Pam Nash, Director of Christian Education.

Listed below is a Summary of the Staff Changes of our Ministers throughout the History of Parma Church, South Church and Parma-South Presbyterian Church.

Learnings and implications:
Parma-South has a long and rich history -- 170 years
Two congregations blended together nearly 70 years ago
After many short-term pastorates, P-S experienced three long-term ones: Rev. Ozra Newcomb -- 14 years; Dr. Howard B. Withers -- 37 years; Dr. Alexander C. Meakin — 20 years

These long pastorates were followed by two short ones: the Rev. H.G. Wardlaw -- 8 years, and the Rev. O. Lee Holliday – 4+ years

Increases and decreases in membership parallel those found among many mainline protestant demoniations as well as the changes in the population of the community.

Last modified 06/11/08