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The Southside had and still has many churches.  When just a church history and/or a short list of parishioners is
available it is featured here.  Churches with full histories, photos and parishioner lists have their own pages. All
underlined passages are links even though they are not blue; all pictures are thumbnails -- click on them.




  • This church is considered a "daughter church" to the then known United Evangelical Protestant Congregation on the West Side located at Branch and Kentucky
    streets in 1866.  The congregation of a newly formed church was established on January 1, 1867 in Schneeberger's Hall by about 40 families.  They called
    their new church the German Evangelical Protestant Church of University Heights. For the sum of $400, the families obtained a lot at the corner of present day
    Tremont Avenue and College Street and a corner stone was laid on May 12, 1867.  The small wooden church was "given over" to the congregation on
    September 15, 1867.

  • The first pastor of the church was Rev. A. Baur, called in October 1867, who remained until August 1868.  Rev. G. Boohest was next called, who continued till
    November, 1871.  Rev. O. Shetler served as pastor from then until August, 1878.  The society numbers about four hundred families, one hundred of whom are
    church members.  Connected with the church is a Sabbath school, having an average attendance of two hundred and fifty.  The church forms a part of the
    German Evangelical Synod of North America.  

  • In 1872 two lots were purchased on Jennings (West 14th Street) from Sarah and Francis Branch and the church on College Avenue was moved to the new site,
    renovated and enlarged.  The new lot cost $8,000.

  • In 1873, another building was moved to the site and remodeled for a school.

  • In 1877/1878, the church became a member of the German Evangelical Synod of North America and the name was changed to the Zion Evangelical
    Protestant Church.

  • A church assembly gathered on August 25, 1884, and decided a new church should be built.  The estimated cost of a new structure was $25,000.  "A brick
    structure was raised on a plan by the architect Mitermuller, with a length of 130 and a width of 65 feet, seating 1500 persons, and a tower of 175 feet high."

  • Ground was broken for the new church on June 26, 1884, and was consecrated on February 1, 1885.  The total cost of the new structure was over $30,000.  
    This cost included three bells, an organ and "internal" fixtures.

  • A parsonage was built in 1887.

  • In 1902, 700 families belong to the church with 300 having voting rights.  The pastor was Theophil Leonhardt, born on February 8, 1853, in Hohenstaufen und
    Wurttemberg.  For many years, the church was known as "Leonhardt's" church while it was under the care of this pastor.

  • July 29, 1906.  New Parochial School Building.  Work has been started on the new parochial school building and assembly hall for the Evangelical Zion
    congregation, which will be erected on West 14th Street, corner of Branch Avenue.  The building will be of brick with stone trimmings, two stories in height.  It
    will cost in the neighborhood of $20,000.  Paul Matzinger is the architect.

  • The German language was used until 1916 and by 1923 both German and English services were held.

  • One of the most important events was the union of the Reformed Church and the Evangelical Synod in 1934.  After this the church was known as the Zion
    Evangelical and Reformed Church.

  • In 1957, the Reformed Church and Evangelical Synod merged with the Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ.  Since then the
    church has been known as the Zion United Church of Christ.

  • The church celebrated its 100th Anniversary on May 12, 13, and 14, 1967.  The Rev Bertram Banscom was the interim pastor.

Sources:
History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, 1879.
Wachter und Anzeiger, Goldenes Jubilaum, 1852-1902, Cleveland.  Original German copy.
Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 29, 1906.
"Spiritual Heritage of Tremont Community", May 22-29, 1966.
Churches featured in the "Spiritual Heritage of theTremont Community" Open House, May 22-29, 1966

  • Trinity United Church of Christ, 3525 West 25th Street -- Formed in 1911 by a group of members from Zion United Church of Christ (then Zion Evangelical
    Church) who wished worship services in English rather than the traditional German.  The first building on Scranton Road, was built by members and was
    dedicated in 1914.  The present building was dedicated in 1926.  An educational wing was added in 1948.  Additional property was bought in 1954.  In 1966,
    The Rev. H. Richard Bucey was pastor and Rev. Karl H. Steckmann was the assistant minister.

  • Mother of God of Zyrovicy--Byelorussion Church, 3517 West 25th Street -- Established in 1951, the church was established by Byelorussion immigrants from
    Europe in 1951, and the first services were held in a rented building on West 14th Street.  Land and a parish house was bought in 1957, in July 1958 a new
    church building was started and in September 1959, the Archbishop Vasily of New York consecrated the new church. (The address of the purchased land was
    3518/3520 Scranton Road)  In 1966, the Very Rev. A. Kryt is pastor, K. Savicki, deacon and K. Kisly, the choir director.

  • Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 3166 Scranton Road --The first services of this church were held in 1952 in a rented store building on Jefferson
    Avenue.  The church moved to a larger building on West 14th Street in 1954 and in 1962 purchased from St. Elias the present church building.  1966, the Very
    Rev. Stephen Posakiwsky is pastor.

  • St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 3526 Scranton Road -- Organized in 1884, as a German Lutheran Church, it was founded by several hundred families from
    Immanuel Lutheran Church, located farther north on Scranton Road.  The original building, located across Meyer Avenue from the present structure, was
    vacated some years ago.  The site is now used as a parking lot.  The present brick building was built in 1900 and the Parish Hall in the rear was added about
    six years later.  A Sunday School was started in the 1920's.  About 1950, a branch of the Sunday School was begun in a storefront building at Professor and
    Starkweather Avenues.  This building was destroyed by fire in January 1964.  The children were transported to the main church for classes until July when the
    Sunday School was reopened in another storefront on the corner of West 7th and Jefferson Avenue.  In 1966, the pastor was The Rev. Ronald A. Mueller.

  • St. Michael (German) Catholic Church, 3114 Scranton Road at Clark Avenue -- Established in 1881, in a two-room frame school house, the first Mass
    celebrated for parishioners was conducted at a temporary altar in one of the rooms.  Within a year a two-story frame building was erected, the lower floor being
    used for school classes.  The Rev. Joseph M. Koudelka was the first pastor and he placed the parish under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel.  In
    1883, a small frame house was built for the pastor and the Bishop dedicated the temporary church.  In 1884, a larger property on the southwest corner of
    Scranton and Clark was bought and ground was broken for a new church in 1888.  In 1890, the exterior of the church was completed including the two main
    spires.  The first Mass was given in 1891, in an uncompleted church after a fire almost entirely destroyed the frame church and school.  The present church
    was dedicated in 1892, the convent (now the rectory) built in 1905 and the large school completed in 1906.  In 1966, the pastor was the Rev. John F. Gruss.

  • Scranton Road Baptist Church, Scranton Road and Clark Avenue -- Started in 1916, by a Slovak minister from Chicago and a group of 40 believers, the church
    was received into the Cleveland Baptist Association as a mission church known as the West Side Czechoslovak Baptist Church in 1917.  In 1920, the present
    church building was purchased and in 1925 a Slovak church of the South Side merged with the congregation.  The Slovak Congregational Church united with
    the West Side Church in 1926 and the combined congregations became known as the Scranton Road Baptist Church.  The Rev. William Malanowski was
    pastor in 1966.

  • Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2928 Scranton Road at Seymour Avenue -- Organized in January 1880 and dedicated in July 1880, the church began its mission
    by operating a parochial school in 1874.  The school continued until 1957.  Two bells were installed in its towers in 1904, each weighing a total of 5,500
    pounds and a 38 rank 26 stop German built tracker action piper organ was installed in 1964.  The church and parish house, built in 1911, were completely
    remodeled in 1955 and 1965.  In 1966, the Rev. Horst Hoyer was pastor.

  • Zion United Church of Christ, West 14th Street and Branch Avenue.  See Below.


  • St. George Syrian Orthodox Church, 2587 West 14th Street -- In 1920's the congregation of this church purchased the building at 2592 West 14th Street.  The
    building had originally been built as a Protestant church.  Domes were added and the interior was done over to reflect Byzantine art.  Services are preached in
    Arabic and English.   In 1966, the Rev. Father Philip Saliba was pastor.  See above.

Click here for entire list.



    Written to commemorate 50 plus years in a confrontational, challenging and changing neighborhood:

    “The South Side exactly as had been in the older parts of Cleveland was blessed with its fervent and strong Catholic element.  As municipal boundaries had
    gradually moved further and further out, it soon followed that the problem of providing for the large Catholic population accredited to St. Patrick's (***Bridge
    Avenue in Ohio City,) but many blocks away from the church and school, must be met and solved.  The solution was the foundation of a parish under the
    patronage of St. Augustine.  The first provision for St. Augustine's was made by Bishop Rappe when in the year 1860 he authorized the purchase of a lot at the
    intersection of Tremont (**Webmaster's note:  There was no Tremont Street yet, this should read Wood Street.) and Jefferson and the immediate
    commencement of the construction of a frame church which was completed the same year."  The organization was considered a "mission" and "it was seven
    years before the Ordinary felt the people were sufficiently blessed with means and equipped with numbers to support a resident pastor. Assistants from the
    Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist attended to services and other spiritual need of the congregation.”

    Fathers A. Grandmougin, F. W. Higgins and J. P. Carroll:
    “The beginning of a resident pastorate was in the year 1867, when the Rev. A. Grandmougin was appointed by the Right Reverend Bishop. The constructive
    work of his brief stay was the erection of a brick pastoral residence at a cost of about $4,000, which was in use for a great many years by his successors.  That
    Father Grandmougin never thought of self was best proven by the manner of his death, which occurred in 1871.  Although the dread disease of smallpox
    threatened him with its infection, the brave priest never hesitated, but went wherever during the epidemic of that year,” (even when) “a stricken parishioner
    called for his spiritual ministrations. Worn out by Herculean exertions for many days, he was unable to rally and succumbed within a few days, literally having
    given his life for his people.”

    “Shortly before Christmas that same year Rev. F. W. Higgins was made the pastor, but in six months was forced to resign he charge, owing to the inroads
    which disease was making upon his health. The third pastor of St. Augustine's was the Rev. J. P. Carroll, who was nominated for the post in July, 1872 and
    who spent two years among the people.  Father Carroll was especially interested in the matter of the education of the Catholic children in the parochial school
    of the parish.  The original building for their accommodation had been secured by Father Grandmougin in 1868 and the growth of the number of students
    enrolled forced Father Carroll to devote a considerable part of his time and energy to enlarging and arranging conditions so as to make the school adequate for
    them."

    Fathers W. J. Gibbons, E. Mears and Michael J. Murphy:
    “Father Carroll accepted the Ravenna charge in 1874 and Rev. W. J. Gibbons was named his successor.  Within a year the peculiar misfortune which seemed
    to pursue the pastors of the parish overtook Father Gibbons and for his health's sake he was obliged to secure a leave of absence.  For the interregnum Rev. E.
    Mears was selected to carry on the work.  Father Mears remained a little more than a year and a half, then departed in the fore part of 1877, when Father
    Gibbons, not yet entirely recovered, but anxious to be with his people, returned to resume his duties.  Within less than a twelve month after coming back to St.
    Augustine, Father Gibbons secured considerable improvements in the church property and also built a small chapel nearby which added greatly to the
    convenience and the serviceability of the plant, the dedication being by Bishop Gilmour on the 9th of December 1877.  Father Gibbons, never physically strong
    was again in the summer of 1879 compelled to sever his connection with the parish and this time permanently, his successor being the Rev. Michael J.
    Murphy.  Father Murphy began nine years of an active and energetic pastorate on the 8th of July in that year.  In 1886, Father Murphy, in order to prevent the
    parish site from being permanently cut off from any possibility of expansion, purchased a site of two lots additional on the east of the property, which gave the
    parish a long stretch of frontage on the street.  Father Murphy in his turn became the victim of failing health in 1888 and was relieved at his own request.”

    Father O'Connor:
    “He was followed by Father John O'Connor, whose name is still held in reverence by hundred of St. Augustine Catholics.  Father O'Connor saw soon after his
    entrance into the parish, that the then location was utterly unsuited to the location of his people and set about looking for a more desirable home for the church.”

    Purchase of New Church:  Click here for entire article.



    Our Lady of Mercy,
    Slovak Roman Catholic Church
    2425 West 11th Street
    Cleveland, Ohio


  • A group of Southside parishioners from St. Wendelin's Slovak Roman Catholic Church (Columbus Road near Lorain Avenue) broke away and wanted to start
    their own parish.  The reason for leaving St. Wendelin's was given as "the parochial school was too far for their children to walk to being that they had to cross
    the Abbey St. Bridge and several intersections."  

  • In 1915, a petition was presented to Bishop Farrelly the Roman Catholic bishop of Cleveland for permission to found their own parish. He refused their
    request.  Another reason for the refusal may have been the influence of the pastor of St. Wendelin's "who did not wish to lose part of his flock."  But the group of
    Slovaks had already bought property on West 11th Street for about $13,000, in anticipation of building a new church when their request was turned down.  They
    continued to petition Bishop Farrelly, but he always turned them down saying  "walking to school was not a sufficient reason to establish a new parish on the
    South Side."

  • In 1917, the group broke away from the Roman Catholic Diocese and became affiliated with the Independent Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania under the
    Right Reverend Francis Hodur. They met and celebrated Mass in the Polish National Church of the Sacred Heart on West 14th St.  They called their new church
    St. John's Independent Slovak Catholic Church and their pastor was the Rev. Stephen Vincent Tokar, a young American, the son of Slovak parents, born in
    Pennsylvania.

  • This original parish was founded with the help of parishioners Juraj Toth, Alex Dzurek, Andrej Hadbavny and Stefan Cech.

  • After Bishop Farrelly's death in 1921, he was succeeded by Bishop Joseph Schrembs.  He listened to St. John's  petition and would only recognize their
    existence and give agreement for a new church if they would reconcile with the Roman Catholic Church.  They did.  

  • In October, 1921, Bishop Schrembs sent Rev. Begalla, who had been an assistant at St. Wendelin's to serve temporarily of the now named Our Lady of Mercy.  
    He stayed until February 1922.

  • The Reverend Frantisek Dubosh was appointed the first full time pastor in February 1922.  

  • When Rev. Dubosh came to the new parish he found a piece of land with "four wooden buildings on it; a small church, a two-room school, one old house that
    was rented to the people, and another old house that served as the rectory" -- all this with a $35,000 mortgage.

  • Within four years of 1922, the parish under Rev. Dubosh paid off the whole debt and fixed all the buildings.  In addition they began to build a new brick school
    with 8 rooms and a hall.  See Elementary Schools.

  • Under reorganization, during the tenure of Rev. Dubosh, the following parishioners were named trustees: "Stefan Cech, Gaspar Langa, Andrej Hadbavny, and
    Juraj Toth."

  • Rev. Dubosh remained with the parish until October 1927.  His successor was Rev. Jan W. Krispinsky.

  • By 1927, when Father Krispinsky became pastor, the congregation of the church had grown from 60 to 326 families.  It continued to grow, and in 1942, the
    parish began a door-to-door collection to build a new church.

  • In 1945, the parishioners had collected over $50,000 towards their goal and construction on the new church was begun in 1948.

  • The new church was dedicated on October 23, 1949.

  • In 1959, Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church and other buildings were remodeled at a cost of $400,000.  Also included in the remodeling was a new
    rectory.

Sources:
Ledbetter, Eleanor E., The Slovaks of Cleveland.  Under the direction of the Cleveland Americanization Committee, Mayor's Advisory War Committee, 1918.

Megles, Susi, Martina Tybor and Mark Stolarik, Slovak Americans and Their Communities of Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland Ethnic Heritage Studies, 1978.

Pankuch, Jan, History of the Slovaks of Cleveland and Lakewood, Cleveland, Pankuch Printing, 1930.  Translated from Slovak in 2001 by Rasto Gallo for the Western
Reserve Historical Society, Publication number 188.

Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, www.ech.case.edu.

Click here for a 1930 surname list of parishioners appearing in Spolku Sv. Vojtecha.


    Dr. Martin Luther Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church
    (former address) 2139 West 14th Street
    Cleveland 9, Ohio        
    (Torn down after July 1959)




  • The Martin Luther Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was founded in 1910 and on June 12, 1910,  the first service was conducted in the German
    church on Bridge Street in Rev. D. Z. Laucek's presence.

  • On July 10, 1910, a special meeting was held and the decision to buy property was finalized.

  • A dwelling at 2139 West 14th St. was chosen and the asking price was $7,500.  The church members did not have enough money for the purchase, but there
    were some members willing to help with a loan.  Mr. Samuel Hruska provided a loan of $400.00 and others followed his example.  In addition there was
    $1,105.00 raised at this July 10th meeting.

  • The house on West 14th Street needed an additional $700.00 for renovations before it could be used as a church.

  • On November 13, 1910, Reverend Karol Salva-Cebratsky became the first regular minister of the now named Church of Dr. Martin Luther and he stayed with
    the church until his death on January 21, 1913.

  • On March 2, 1913, Reverend Jan Body took over the position as pastor and served until March 21, 1915.  Rev. Samuel Placko served as a temporary minister
    from April 1915 and for the next six months until another minister could be found.

  • The Reverend Albert D. Dianiska was appointed pastor of this church on August 15, 1915.

  • The house on West 14th Street served as a church until 1917.  

  • The four-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation was celebrated by this congregation with the opening of their new church.  The structure was of red brick,
    very pleasing in style.  This new church was consecrated on November 25, 1917, "in the presence of  Rev. Ramer, Rev. D. Kvacala, Rev. Jan Body, Rev. Putra,
    Rev. Samuel Placko and Rev. A. Dianiska."

  • The Slovak Protestants trace their history back to the reformation of John Huss, so in the decorations of this new church, the coat-of-arms of Martin Luther was
    balanced by "The Cup." the emblem of the Hussites.

  • In 1918, the pastor was still Rev. Albert D. Dianiska, a Slovak, whose father and grandfather before him had been Lutheran ministers.  The Rev. Mr. Dianiska
    had in his library manuscript volumes of devotion which were used in the dark days of religious persecution, in Hungary when meetings could be held only in
    secret, and printed books were not available.

  • On April 19, 1927, the church made the decision to purchase a building on the north side of the church.  That building was purchased for $9,000.00.  Besides
    these buildings, the church owned its own cemetery in Brooklyn Heights

  • The Rev. Matej F. Benko became the new pastor on March 3, 1929.  The church had a membership of 612 families, numbering almost 2,700 persons.  There
    were 60 members in the choir with Michal Bruchac as its teacher-organist and a Youth Association in the Luther League having 53 members.

  • In 1930, the church administration was comprised of Pavel Demian, Jan Grecko, Pavel Benko, Pavel Kana and Andrej Kubala.

  • Pastored from 1929 to 1958 by the Rev. Martin Benko, president of the Slovak Zion Synod of the United Lutheran Church in America.  

  • The church was considered an area landmark until it was razed to make way for the Innerbelt.

  • Relocated to 4470 Ridge Road, Parma