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Health & Fitness

Curious about church steeples? Here's a few facts!

Church steeples dot the skylines of many towns and cities across our country, many of them works of art,  full of history and stories handed down through the ages.  Just take a drive down our own city streets and you'll see quite a number in various architectural style.

The beginnings of these structures took root in the architectural styles of some of the great churches in England and Europe.  The American settlers brought with them their ideas of what a "proper" church should look like based on what they had witnessed there and believed that the churches in their new home shouldn't be any less grand or lack in any detail.


Early church architects designed grand cathedrals with sweeping vertical steeples, that served to direct the eyes towards the heavens.  The early church often used symbols and pictures like those featured in stained glass windows to communicate the stories of the Bible with those who could not read.  Thus, the steeple, pointing unerringly at heaven, not only keeps the congregant focused on his or her spiritual mindset, but it also gives the architect a beautiful design feature.

The congregational tradition of construction is simple and plain and in my personal opinion, it contributes greatly to the beauty of the structure.  Pilgrim United Church of Christ, located near the historic Riverfront area in Cuyahoga Falls received its new name in 1965 previously known as First Congregational Church.  It is built in the Greek Revival manner.  The construction of the building was completed in 1847 and for almost 20 years after its completion, the building remained unchanged.  As the congregation and more modern conveniences became available, the building slowly changed.  

There is one thing that has not changed, though, and that is the faith of the congregationalist community of believers.  We hold fast to our conviction that all are welcome, that we are all called to serve Christ, the community of Cuyahoga Falls and the world.  We may not always agree with one another, but we are called to treat one another with respect and caring.  There is a larger purpose and when I see our graceful steeple touching the sky, this is what I remember.  The higher purpose of our Christian calling....our Congregational faith and living a life that illustrates that faith.

When driving through Cuyahoga Falls at night, you'll notice our steeple lights lighting the sky.  It's a tradition in our congregation that we keep them lit in either memory of loved ones passed or in honor of special occasions and when a congregant requests the lights be kept on for such a time, a message is printed in church publications noting the occasion.  We invite the community to participate.  If you would like to "light" the night sky with our steeple lights for a special occasion, please contact the church office at (330) 928-4847.  The cost is a $5 donation.

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