Church in the Valley

CHURCH IN THE VALLEY

A history of Church in the Valley, called "Angel of the Valley: A History of Church in the Valley" was written in 1999, by member Don Bean.  He has graciously allowed this to be public record, and so we offer a brief synopsis here.

Stained glass window at Church in the Valley

Evidence unearthed in archeological digs proves that Hopewell Indians lived on the very site of today's Church in the Valley.  Mounds south, north and west of the church, on Cuyahoga Valley National Park lands may be unearthed to glean further proof of the history of the Indian in this area.  

More recently, however, the Christian Brethren built a church here in 1895, however, that building was abandoned by 1899.  In 1901, the orginial Everett Church of Christ was built on this site.  A few short years later, on June 2, 1908, the residents of Everett were awakened by a fire at the church.  A cause was never determined.  They were able to save the organ, the pulpit and a half dozen pews.

The fire was a blow to the residents of Everett, but with much love, dedication and volunteer labor, the church was rebuilt later that year.   Through the years, the rebuilt church was home to many families in and near the village of Everett.  When the National Park Service bought many of the homes in the area, the church slowly dwindled to a few elderly ladies and a young couple.

The ladies remember the love and caring of church members as they grew up, met spouses, raised children and worked hard to keep the church going.  They were about ready to give the building to the Park Service, when Pastor John Fisk entered the picture.

John had recently been relieved of his pastoral duties at another local church; he was at a low point of his life, but had been meeting with other Christians for awhile at Bath Town Hall. They were beginning to outgrow theTown Hall, and needed a home of their own.  His wife Beryl urged him one day to take a ride by the little church on Everett Road.  They pulled in, and noticed the charm of the little country church.  There was a little girl playing with a ball in the parking lot.  They asked her what she knew about the church, she told them "it's a wonderful church.  We had six or eight (at service)...one time we had twenty!".  She told them details of the church, and told them that they just needed people.  Beryl & John walked around the other side of the church, peeked in a window to see what it looked like inside, and when they came back to their car, the little girl was gone.  

The next Sunday, they asked the six ladies who the little girl was, they just stared at him blankly.  There was no little girl in the neighborhood, most of the homes were empty.  God knows our needs, and he always provides, He sent the  "Angel of the Valley" to encourage John & Beryl, and to make the merger possible.

The ladies were overjoyed to meet Pastor John, and shortly thereafter, the two little congregations were joined and became the "Church in the Valley".  Since that time, in the early 1990's, the church has grown, the interior has been restored, and now a new addition is about to be completed in the rear with a fellowship hall, classroom space, offices and a modern kitchen.  

Recently, John has left us for a better home in heaven, and we know God will send us another pastor, just like the faithful servants that have been at this special place for many years.  

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