About Us

Church History

Who We Are

Church History

In the spring of 1870, a church school was organized in St. Bernard by a group of young ladies, members of the Kaylor, Kemper, Long, and Huffman families. Meetings were held in a little hall in the second floor of a building at the corner of Ross and Carthage Pike. Upon completion of the Ross Avenue School, the church school moved to one of its rooms.

These meetings were the beginning of the Wilson Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Theophilus Wilson of Avondale, after whom the church was later named, became identified with the church school in March, 1874. New quarters had to be found in 1882 when a law was passed prohibiting religious services in public schools. Stephen Kemper at that time gave the small congregation a lot in Walnut Hills. This lot was sold and with the proceeds a lot was purchased on Clay Street in St. Bernard.

In February, 1882, the officers and teachers decided to become an incorporated body and the name of the corporation was: "The Presbyterian Society of Ludlow Grove." The first board of trustees was composed of Theophilus Wilson, President; Henry Huffman, Vice President; B.W. Barrows, Secretary; and Joshua Kaylor, Treasurer.

In the same year, $1649.85 was secured by pledging for the building of a chapel on the newly acquired property on Clay Street. A large portion of the money was secured from the German settlers and, as an expression of gratitude, Mr. Wilson permitted the use of the Chapel for German services. As soon as the Germans were organized, a contract was drawn up which allowed them the use of the Chapel in the forenoon while the English services were conducted in the afternoon.

Mr. Wilson and Mr. Theodore Nieman on May 10, 1889 went before the Cincinnati Presbytery and asked to be organized into a church body of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America on the Synod of Ohio. The request was granted. The membership at the time numbered 18. These chartered members were: Blake W. Barrows, Catherine A. Huffman, Anne M. Huffman, Cora L. Huffman, Mrs. Julia Kemper, Jane Kemper, Mrs. Mary B. Kaylor, Jessie Arthur, Theophilus Wilson, Matthew Dinsmoor, Mrs. Elizabeth Dinsmoor, Mr. Theodore Nieman, Henry Huffman, Fredericka Straub, Anna B. Straub, Minnie B. Straub, Katherine Nieman, and Hattie B. Huffman.

In April, 1905, the trustees of the newly incorporated church were directed to purchase a suitable site and make arrangements for the erection of a new church. Four lots were purchased on the northwest corner of Sullivan and McClelland Avenues for the cost of $800. On December 25, 1910, the new church was dedicated with the church and church school members marching from Clay Street to their new home on Sullivan Avenue. The church manse was built and dedicated in February, 1925.

On New Year's Day, 1928, the congregation gathered to hear the new minister, Rev. Mr. Edward H. Lorenz. It was a cold day. The temperature stood three degrees below zero. The people returned to their homes to be called back to the church by the alarm of the Fire Department. THE CHURCH WAS ON FIRE! Valiant efforts were made to check the flames, but with the handicap of the bitter cold weather, the building was completely destroyed. With tragedy fresh in the minds of the trustees and Rev. Lorenz, plans were formulated for the construction of a new church building, our present building. The cornerstone of the new church was laid August 12, 1928 by the Grand Lodge F. and A.M. of the State of Ohio.

According to congregational minutes of April 10, 1929, the contract price of our present church building, organ, pews, pulpit, and other furniture was $77,881.18 (roughly $840,000 today). At this same meeting it was recorded that $37,083.70 was paid off on the contract price. It was some years later when Dr. Palmer was Pastor that the mortgage was paid off and burned.