History of The Riverside/Northwest Avenue Church of Christ
The Beginning - 1920’s
In late 1926, or early 1927, a small group of people began meeting as a Sunday School in what was known as the “Thurber Home” at 605 E. Cuyahoga Falls Avenue in Akron. They called themselves the Gorge Mission School, a mission work of the High Street Christian Church.
In January 1928 trustees of High Street purchased two lots on Riverside Drive for construction of a building to house the Mission School, and looking to the time when a Church of Christ would be established. A third lot was later purchased and in September 1928 the High Street trustees were instructed to construct a building at a cost of $2,700.00. The official name would be the Riverside Chapel of High Street Church of Christ.
In June 1929, Henry Shaw, a High Street Timothy, was sent to minister to the new congregation. On December 3, 1929, George Knepper who was minister of High Street, delivered the dedicatory sermon for the new chapel.
1930’s-1966
On January 1, 1930, The Riverside Church of Christ was officially organized with 36 charter members. Nineteen of them came from other congregations. The church grew and in September 1931 Mr. Shaw left Riverside to further his education. Over the next three months, the Elders conducted the services. The next few years brought several changes of ministers - Everett Scott, C.H. Pickering, W.H. Baker, and C.A. Freer.
During C. Waller Jordan’s ministry from 1939 to 1948, the church separated from the United Christian Missionary Society and became independent from the High Street Church. Also during Mr. Jordan’s ministry, a baptistry was installed and an addition was built on the East side of the building allowing classrooms on upper and lower levels.
The church continued to grow during Hayword Ingram’s ministry from 1948 to 1957. On November 25, 1956, a ceremony was held to burn the mortgage for the church and parsonage. Mr. Ingram’s ministry was followed by Arthur Fields from 1957 to 1965.
In January 1966, Clyde True was called to minster with us. As our church family grew more classroom space was needed, as well as nursery and worship facilities.
In May 1966, the Building and Planning Committee was formed, with Bill Moneypenny as Chairman for the purpose of making plans to solve the problem at hand.
Every effort was made to expand the existing facilities, but it was concluded that we should relocate. A search began for land near our present location, but after looking at several parcels it was decided that what best suited the need was the 2.6 acres at Northwest Avenue and Thomas Road in Tallmadge.
The Riverside building was sold for $30,000.00, the same price as the new land. The congregation decided that the church name should be changed to Northwest Avenue Church of Christ.
1967 - 1975
After selling the Riverside Church, a place was needed for our church services while building the new structure. So, from January 1967 until November 1968, we met downtown in the Akron Bible Institute building. Teachers carried their supplies back and forth each week and carried in communion supplies and kept the juice in the Coke machine.
Ground was broken on March 3, 1968, for the new building and construction began almost immediately. As the weather warmed and construction progressed, Wednesday evening prayer services were held under the huge beams and the sky with 58 in attendance at the first service, sitting on planks for seats.
On November 9, 1968, we moved into our new building marked by a prayer service, followed by a week revival with 31 people accepting the Lord’s invitation. Dedication services were held on September 7, 1969.
Brother Clyde True remained as minister until June 1972. John Gidley filled in as interim minister until January 1973 prior to leaving for the mission field in Puerto Rico. In January 1973 Joe Brown came as minister and in June 1974 Doug Simpson was hired as our first Associate. When Joe Brown left suddenly in August 1974, Doug temporarily took the position until Duane Walter came as Senior Minister in April 1975.
1975 - 1981
Not many years passed after moving into this building when we realized we had not planned for future needs. After moving in, we found the educational facilities were barely adequate for the present attendance. Several outreach programs were adopted and resulted in rapidly outgrowing what we had. A new Building and Planning Committee was formed to solve the new problem.
The committee contacted Church Growth Services of Indiana to come and present their program on May 15, 1975, to the committee and board. Impressed with the presentation, the congregation commissioned them on June 8, 1975, to develop a long-range growth plan. Finally, the decision was made to go ahead with the much-needed addition to our educational facilities.
On May 14, 1978, ground was broken, and a second story was added to the educational area. Dedication of these facilities was held on September 9, 1979.
During this period there were further changes in the ministry. Doug Simpson moved to another field, and Steve Wyatt was called in June 1977 to be the Associate. In March 1979, Duane Walter resigned, and Steve stepped into the position until the Elders could find a man suitable to fill the Senior Minister’s position. After a time of searching and interviewing, it was evident to the Elders that the best-qualified man was already acting in that capacity. The congregational vote was nearly unanimous to accept Steve as Senior Minister.
Another search began to fill the Associate position bringing to Northwest Larry Travis in January 1980. Steve continued as Senior Minister until the end of December 1981 when he moved to another field.
1982 - 1992
Randy Kirk was called as Senior Minister in August 1982. Larry moved on in 1982 and David Fulton was called to fill the Associate position in November 1982. After he left in December 1983, David Bean joined us in March 1984 as Associate. Randy Kirk felt the urge to return to coaching basketball, so he left Northwest at the end of June 1985 to join the faculty at Kentucky Christian College. During the period that Randy was with us, Ken Baldwin joined us as a third staff member in late 1984 and filled in as Senior Minister when Randy left.
Another search began for a Senior Minister and so Charles Niedermyer began his ministry in January 1986 and continued until his decision to leave to another field at the end of August 1988. Ken Baldwin filled in as interim Senior Minister from July 1985 until the urchase Elders decided we had the man already with us who was best suited for the position. By unanimous decision of the congregation, Ken was asked to stay on as Senior Minister, which he accepted beginning in January 1986.
In early 1992 the church had the opportunity to purchase the property to the south of our property. An offer was made, and the deal was closed followed by much work done to the property by the members of the congregation.
In the Fall of 1992 David Bean resigned as Associate Minister. After several interviews of prospects, Andrew Bennett, a recent graduate of Kentucky Christian College was offered the position.
