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HISTORY
OF FAITH CHURCH
As with many churches, Faith Church had a small and humble
beginning.
Our roots can be traced to one woman, Rena Gamble, who after
moving to Newark with her husband, George and their sons, Wesley and
Forbes, was troubled to discover that there were no Brethren
churches in Newark.
Resolving to change that, Mrs. Gamble sought assistance from
her former pastor, a Rev. Davidson who suggested she contact
Otterbein College in nearby Westerville for advice on starting a
church.
As a result, Professor T. J. Sanders was brought to Newark to
help and on October 14, 1894, the East Main United Brethren Church
was organized with 35 people signing their names in a “charter
book”. Since there was no church building, the group met for
several years in a store front located at the northwest corner of
North Buena Vista and East Main streets. Historical records show
this building housed an upholstery shop and meat market during the
1960s. The upholstery shop was owned by William and Goldie
Richardson who were members of our church. Both are now deceased. In
fact, Goldie passed away just a few years ago. The building was
razed several years ago and today, only a vacant lot remains where
our church first began. In the beginning, several “supply
pastors” served the church. The first recognized “pastor” of
our church was Professor N.E. Cornetet, who served for several
months from 1894 into 1895. Our first officially ordained minister
to serve was the Rev. O.C. Wright who began a four-year ministry
from 1895 to 1899.
Meanwhile, the small church began to grow and by 1898, it was
necessary to look into the construction of an actual church
building. Land was acquired several blocks east of the store front
and soon a wood-sided structure was erected at the corner of East
Main and Arch streets. This building served the congregants well for
about 15 years, but as membership inched its way toward the 1,000
mark, it became very apparent that a larger facility was needed
despite an addition being constructed in 1914. The original church
building was torn down and the present facility was built on the
same site in 1924.
While members were waiting for this new facility to be
finished, worship and Sunday school services were held in a facility
called “The Tabernacle” located on East Main Street.
As the years went by, people continued to join the church
while others moved away, including George and Rena Gamble as George
was offered a job with the B & O Railroad in Cleveland. George
passed away in the early 1940s and records show Rena Gamble died in
1946.
Because of increased enrollment in our Sunday school
ministry, ground was broken in February of 1962 for a two story
educational unit.
The church, meanwhile, continues to this day, although
membership, for a variety of
reasons, no longer is over the 1,000 mark.
In 1994, we celebrated 100 years as a congregation.
As of 2007, Faith Church has been pastored by 19 different
men with one man, Rev. Arthur B. Cox, having served two pastoral
terms, 1913-1918 and 1933-1950. Since its inception, the church has
undergone four name changes. East Main United Brethren, (1894);
First United Brethren, (1924); First Evangelical United Brethren
Church, (1946) and Faith United Methodist Church, (1968). The latter
name change occurred as the result of the 1968 merger between The
Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church. Our
church has also been involved in the “birth” of at least five
other churches in the Newark area. These churches are Cox United
Methodist, Wright United Methodist, Christian Endeavor United
Methodist, Marne United Methodist and Pleasantview United Methodist
Church.
In addition to church activities, we are home to several
groups and a Christian school who enjoy the use of our facilities.
Neil
Snelling, Church Historian 2007
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