CHURCH HISTORY Through the years

March 1955: National Missions Committee of Mahoning Presbytery recommends that a church be established in the Wickliffe area of Austintown.
April 3, 1955: First worship service held Palm Sunday at Davis Elementary School. About 68 men, women and children attend the service, led by Dr. Paul Gauss, member of Mahoning Presbytery.
June 1, 1955: The Rev. Zane B. Bolinger installed as pastor. He was assisted by Julia Spickard of National Board of Missions, who went out into the community to contact those interested in attending Sunday school and church services.
Nov. 20, 1955: Formal constituting takes place with 160 charter members. Congregation continues to meet at Davis School while raising funds to buy land and start building a church.
Feb. 22, 1959: Congregation sees ground broken for an educational building costing $109,000.
Nov. 22, 1959: Educational building dedicated.July 2, 1964: Ground broken for a sanctuary and additional church school building. Cost is $145,000 including furnishings.
April 4, 1965: Dedication of sanctuary and church school building.
The Rev. Mr. Bolinger, the first pastor, came to Wickliffe after his graduation from seminary and left in 1961. Other pastors have been the Revs. Russell D. Williams Jr., David Dietzel, Kenneth Hooten, Keith Blake, Kurt Freund, Dr. Hugh Gunn, Arthur Joachim, Mark Merritt, Barrie Bodden and Patricia Young. Current interim pastor is the Rev. Condie Watters, who is retiring.
Source: Wickliffe Presbyterian Church