photo courtesy of Lloyd Klingal & Brian Martin

Hope Church circa 1900

 

 

Hope Church of Sulphur Springs, Ohio was originally The Methodist Episcopal Church. The building was constructed in 1848 and used by the Methodist congregation until sometime in the 1880's.

 

The Hope Reformed Church of Sulphur Springs, Ohio was organized on March 5, 1890. Rev. P. C. Withoff was the Pastor who sponsored this organization which was effected with eighteen members; fourteen from Salem Church and four from the Old Hope Methodist Episcopal Church.

 

These members names were:

 

Joel F. Keller, Susanna Keller, Martin Sprow, Isaac Klopfenstein, Sr., Mary Klopfenstein, Lovina Keller, Eliza Depler, FRank Sprow, O. J. Keller, C. A. Keller, George P. Rader, Mary J. Rader, Clara S. Norton, Addie Keller, Jacob S. Keller, Katie M. Flohr, Katie S. Lust, and Isaac Klopfenstein.

 

In another month, ten more members were added:

Nathan Lust, F. M. Virtue, Mrs. Lou Virtue, Mrs. F. G. Witthoff, Mrs Sarah Tustison, John Hetrick, Anna Keller, Milton M. Keller, Anna Weston, and A. J. Hazlett.

 

In a year the membership grew to fifty-seven. In 1911 this church became the only church in the charge. This church experienced rapid growth and established itself in these years under the leadship of Rev. Frank Zartman.

 

In 1934, when the denomination merged with the Evangelicals, on June 26, the membership was one hundred ninety-five. This merger was made at Zion Church in Cleveland, Ohio. The name then became Hope Evangelical and Reformed Church of Sulphur Springs, Ohio.

 

An addition was added to the South side to facilitate more Sunday School area and a small kitchen. This addition was dedicated in October of 1939.

 

Membership began diminishing in the mid-fifties with part-time, short-term, and supply ministries.

 

Another congregational merger became a paragraph of our history. In 1957, again at Cleveland, Ohio, the congregations of the Evangelical and Reformed Churches merged with the Congregational and Christian Churches to form The United Church of Christ. The official name of the Church then became Hope United Church of Christ, Sulphur

Springs, Ohio, with a membership of one hundred-thirty.

 

On March 29, 1970, Hope United Church of Christ celebrated the 80th Anniversary of it's founding as Hope Reformed Church, under the leadershio of Rev. J. O. Herbert Meyer, interim retired Pastor.

 

In 1974 the parsonage was sold on Land Contract. This became the beginning of many projects for and within the Church. In 1975 the Church was completely insulated. This became a project of Volunteer labor and efforts of many within the church, both young and old. Also the windows were repaired and sealed and the church sanctuary walls were paneled. This being primarily a project of the Senior Youth Group.

 

In 1976 the old coal furnace was removed and electric heat was installed. Again much of the labor was donated by members. Roof repairs and painting were also projects of this era.*

 

 

*The above originally appeared in the Sulphur Springs Sesquicentennial: A History of the past 50 years of Sulphur Springs, Ohio.

 

Copyright © 2008 - Hope Church Sulphur Springs, Ohio