The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1917-03-09

NeXC kouHudys MdFCH A1---tO IAlc VERY
day Of the week, will mark the one
hundredth anniversary Of the first re-
ligious service. ever held in Medina. It
was an Episcopal service and there
being no church building the service
was held at the home of Zenas Hamil-
ton, a jealous and prominent Episco-
palian at that time. This was the
actual beginning Of the Episcopal
church in Medina, which has steadily
grown and prospered during the cen
tury of its existence.
Rev. r. Searle, who had held prev
ious charges in Ashtabula and Cleve-
land, was the organizer and first rector
of the Medina church. He was here
in the spring of 1917 and at once be-
gan the work Of organization. The
true spirit and ambition of this good
man is evidenced by the fact that there
were only a score, or perhaps a few
more residents in the community. But
the churchmen rallied to his standard
and another meeting was decided upon
for April. 10, Rev. Searle meanwhile
carrying on his meetings in other
places.
Following the first meeting, interest
grew rapidly and the members became
enthusiastic for church building Of
their own. History states that !" on
the 10th day of April, 1917, the people
assembled with teams and tools at the
place appointed (about a mile north.
east Of the present building), cleared
away the underbrush, cut the timber
hauled it together and put up log
meeting house; cut the tree, made the
shingles, covered it, and about moor
word came that Rev. Searle would bt
there and preach sermon at A o'cloci
in the afternoon Of that day. We die
j our best to be ready. We prepared
| seats by placing poles between ths
logs and stakes drove in the gr0unt
and had it already in due time. Rev
Searle came and fulfilled his appoint
ment. The exercises were accompan
led with appropriate singing and 81
passed off in very pleasing pioneei
4 style" x,
i AT this time Medina village had no
been laid out, but which was done thl
4 following year, 1918. Not long afte'
| the first church was built it was takel
down and rebuilt at another point am
il in a more substantial manner am
served the double purpose Of churc|
and school. The building was dee
\ troyed by fire year after its erectief
As the church grew in memhefsliI
z there was felt need for q more CON
Inc dIbus structure. and though eifo
were made 1rsfI time 70 tffi1e with tini
aim, It was not until 1887 that tln
ambitions Of these pioneer churchne
il became realized, when on July III o
that year the new building was con
/ secrated to God, by Rt. Rev. Charlie
p. McIlvaine.
Rev. Roger Searle directed the des
tiny of St. Paul's church until 1921
when, owing to advancing years. h
sought less exacting work. He died i
Ashtabula in the fall Of 1926. Follow
ing Rev. Bronson, Rev, Alva Sanfor
became rector until 1885, he in tur
being succeeded by Rev. Vim. Gran
vile, who presided until 1845 Rev
George s. Davis was rector from 184
to 1855 and again from 1857 to 1877
the two intervening years being direct
| led by Rev. Edward Kennedy. Fror
1870 to 1872, Rev. Anson Clerk serve
as rector, who was followed by Re,
lW. H. Dean for the succeeding thre
years. Rev. E. w. Colloque becam
rector in 1876; serving until 1885,
when Rev. N. e. Cornwall assumed tn
!, rectorship, serving until 1888. Fror