Celebrating 169 Years as a Congregation!
Apple Street (1855-1894)
Our journey began on September 15, 1855, as a few German Protestant people of Cumminsville met to plan for their first service on September 22. This first church was named The First German Evangelical Protestant Congregation of Cumminsville; the building pictured left was completed in October of 1856 and is referred to as the "Apple Street" church. Sixty-nine people were in attendance for the cornerstone dedication. The building still stands to this day in Northside as a multi-resident complex.
Hoffner Street (1894-1993)
Outgrowing the Apple Street church near the end of the 19th century meant that it was time for a new building. Land was purchased "around the corner" in Northside on Hoffner Street, once referred to as the new "elegant place of worship." A parsonage was built next door in 1913, and a gymnasium/auditorium/classroom building was added in 1936. Hoffner Street was partially damaged in the Great Cincinnati Flood of 1937, a mere foreshadowing of what was to come in the 90s. Pipes from the organ and more pictures of the Hoffner Street church can be seen in our current church's choir room.
For its 100th anniversary in 1955, the congregation voted to renovate the front part of the sanctuary, moving the organ and installing three beautiful "finger windows" (which can be seen centerstage in our current sanctuary on Glenview Avenue!). Next time you visit the church, take a closer look at all the symbols embedded in the three windows.
From 1962-1968, the church name changed to The First Evangelical Church of Cincinnati. On April 21, 1968, we officially became First United Church of Christ, Cincinnati.
Glenview Avenue (1993-present)
On June 10, 1993, an evening storm with extremely high winds whipped through Cincinnati. One building greatly impacted by the winds was the Hoffner Street church... the 100-foot steeple was ripped from its base and dropped through the roof of the sanctuary. It continued its fall through the sanctuary floor and into the fellowship hall below. Fortunately, no one was hurt but the facility was deemed to be structurally unsound and unstable.
Having purchased land off Glenview Avenue in College Hill in 1968, the congregation chose to meet in the carriage house that was still on the property. For just over two years crammed into the carriage house, the congregation officially dedicated the new church on Glenview Avenue on September 25, 1995. The bell tower was dedicated shortly after the church opened, in memory of church organist Carrie Dotzauer, who served from 1919 her death over fifty years later. In 2000, additional kitchen space, more storage, and rooms for youth and children were added; most of which was paid for out of a bequest from long-time member Sylvester Schulte. A huge steppingstone in the life of the church was when we officially became an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation on Easter morning of 2018 (April 1). More information on the importance of being an ONA church can be seen below!
No stranger to disasters impacting our buildings (but never diminishing our strength as a church), on Christmas Eve of 2022, a pipe burst near the health ministries room. The water not only flowed into the narthex and nearby parlor, but it seeped downstairs to the IHN rooms and two storage closets. With this disaster came many beautiful changes: the old choir room (in the basement) now provides the perfect space for youth gatherings and movie nights, while the bright youth room upstairs transformed into a vibrant music room for the choir and handbell choir. The health ministries room moved to the old nursery down the hall, allowing for the Nurturing Center to be built adjacent to the sanctuary. This new space allows families with children privacy to learn and worship in their own way. New carpet and fresh paint went in all throughout the church, adding a sense of warmth and welcome. You can see all of our current spaces by clicking here. We are a dedicated, determined congregation that continues to be the church in all that we do. No matter what comes our way, we are ready for the next 169+ years. We hope you will join us in this journey!
LGBTQ+ people of faith often experience emotional and spiritual injury in churches that condemn their capacity to love and seek love. Because they’ve learned that “All Are Welcome” usually doesn’t apply to them, they can’t assume that any church will be safe for them and their families. On Easter morning in 2018 (April 1), First United Church of Christ officially became an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation. Our hope is that all LGBTQ+ faith seekers see and know that they have a home here at First UCC because we are all beloved children of God.
By adopting an ONA covenant, as stated above, we at First United Church of Christ take seriously St. Paul’s admonition to “accept one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7, NIV)
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ
As an ONA congregation, we are part of the larger Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ. This organization advocates for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and equips UCC congregations to become effective witnesses to Christ’s extravagant welcome.