Church History

The church now known as the Upper Room Church of God began as a small group of people at the corner of North Main and Frazer Street. The Rev. Mayes from Detroit rented this storeroom and later received Rev. D. E. Boatwright and the two worked together for a short time. Rev. Boatwright was then given the pastorate. An old "skating rink" on Meeks Ave. was then rented to hold services in. The rent was high and the building was hard to heat so the church decided to leave there.

First Pastor D.C. Boatwright
Mr. & Mrs. F. A. Sunderman

The church had no affiliation at that time and it was decided to join a good Pentecostal church. Rev. Boatwright's son, David was visiting his father and suggested the church join the Church of God with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, so the Rev. D. G. Phillips, Ohio State overseer, was sent for and the church was set in order Oct. 27, 1936 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Sunderman, 542 Cherry Street. There were 25 charter members: Rev. and Mrs. D. E. Boatwright, Jack and Phillip Boatwright, Gertrude Burnfeil, Max Fry, G. N. Copus, June Deeds, Mrs. Pastorious, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Fry, Ardine Ward, Wayne Ward, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Copus, Mr. and Mrs. William Norris, Gerald Cooper, Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Sunderman, Paul and Kenny Sunderman, Mr. and Mrs. Elli Hackenberger and Clarence Copus.

Succeeding Rev. Boatwright was Rev. Harry Bernard. After holding services in a building on Lynn St. for a short while, a large tent was purchased for $10.00 in 1937 and it was utilized for services for almost a year when a bad storm tore it beyond repair. Services were then held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Todd, Dara Weaver and others. The congregation then purchased an old lumber mill with only a skeleton structure at 110 Walnut Street. Members of the church worked untiringly to refinish the interior and complete a four room parsonage upstairs. The Rev. J. W. Sullivan filled out the unexpired term of Rev. Bernard.

Other ministers to pastor the church on Walnut Street and live in the 4 room parsonage upstairs were: Rev. D. W. Mills, Rev. D. G. Phillips, Rev. Sheldon Brock, Rev. Jesse Lavender and the Rev. M. W. Patterson.

It was during the pastorate of Rev. M. W. Patterson that the United Brethren Church on West Hardin Street was purchased for $35,000.00. The first service was held Dec. 23, 1951.

Church on corner of Cory & Hardin Streets

The next pastors were Rev. J. W. Vance followed by Rev. J. B. Ellington. The next eight years Rev. William E. Winters served as the pastor. It was during his pastorate that the church indebtedness was paid off.

Rev. Perry Horton was the next pastor of the church, followed by Rev. Charles Rosson in 1967. (The present parsonage was purchased Jan. 16, 1967).

Rev. John Richardson and his wife Elizabeth ministered from 1970-1972 and broke our church attendance record Easter, March 29, 1970. During the tenure of our next pastor, John Ellington, the land on West Bigelow was purchased.

Our next minister, Carl Maynard, had the distinction of being the one who would take our congregation after 25 years at the Hardin St. Church of God to the beginning of our building program at 520 W. Bigelow Ave. In the interim we worshiped at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on W. Melrose. Ground breaking was August 24, 1975. February 1976 Rev. Harold Mosingo became pastor of the church and completed the building program. On Sept. 18, 1976 the West Bigelow Church of God was dedicated with an overflow crowd. After Rev. Mosingo left the Rev. J. B. Ellington ministered to the congregation for a short time.

Construction of our present church at West Bigelow

Rev. Terry McBeath was appointed pastor July 1979 and has served the church for 25 years. Extensive growth has been seen in the church and it was added onto in 1988.

The church name was changed to Upper Room Church of God on July 21, 1995.

Recently, current Pastor Terry McBeath and wife Donna were honored for their 25 years of service to the church. A limo ride took them and guest speaker, Jimmy D. Smith, to a local restaurant for breakfast. Then, a police motorcade escorted them to the church, where their son and his wife, Terry and Tammy McBeath, presented them with flowers. They were next surprised and overjoyed by the unexpected appearance of their other son and his wife, Kenny and Susan McBeath.

The McBeaths both laughed and cried while watching a professionally prepared DVD depicting experiences from their 25 years of service to the church. A nostalgic message concerning the McBeaths was then delivered by Bishop Jimmy D. Smith, former state overseer of Northern Ohio.

This was followed by a dinner in the fellowship hall, enjoyed by the McBeaths, church members and guests. g

Rev. Terry & Donna McBeath