Title

The Origin of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church:

On November 11, 1870, as requested by the Rt. Rev. Gregory T. Bedell, third Bishop of Ohio, the Rev. H.L. Badger of Christ Church, Warren, The Rev. George Maxwell of St. John’s Youngstown, and the Rev. George S. Vallandingham of Trinity Church, Lisbon visited Niles to ascertain the prospects of establishing a mission there.

The Rev. George Franklin Smythe, Diocesan Historian records the mission was first called St. Peter's but was changed in 1877 to Advent Mission. A mission committee was elected consisting of the following persons: George M. Evans, J.K. Wilson, John Round, Jacob Dixon, Edmund Scott, J. Louis Will, Thomas Carter, Thomas Ainsworth, and Cornelius Easthope.

Left: Cover of the history of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church pamphlet published May 1970 in recognition of its 100th year celebration, 1870-1970.

On Nov. 11, 1870, the first Episcopal service was held in Niles by the Rev. Henry L. Badger of Warren and the Rev. Geo. S. Vallandigham of New Lisbon, Ohio.

This crude sketch of the building they met in on the southside was made by one of the older members of the church many years ago. It was probably the same building used by the Welsh Presbyterians before they built their church on Second Street. PO1.346

In 1873 a small wooden church was built on the west side of Chestnut Street north of the intersection of Church Street. Mrs. Elizabeth Wagstaff attended this church as a small girl and later drew this sketch from memory for the church files. PO1.347

Old Red Town Hall

Founding and Early Years: St. Luke’s began its life in November 1870: meeting in homes of various people on the South side of Niles. Later, meeting and holding services in the old schoolhouse on Front Street, now First Street. For a short time, services were held in the old Red Town Hall located on the present McKinley Memorial grounds and later ones held in the Presbyterian church on Main Street. A small building was built on Chestnut Street in 1873.

First Building: About 1880, a building was erected on Chestnut Street on a lot that was donated by Miss Maria Heaton, four houses north of the present Lutheran Church. This site is four houses north of the present Lutheran Church. On Christmas Eve 1896, this building was destroyed by fire. It was torn down in 1914 to make room for a house being moved from the site of Niles High School (Edison Junior High School) by George Campbell. Mr. Frank Sayers, now deceased, recalled the church as being papered with wallpaper with the letters IHS on it. The building, as described by Mrs. W. Wagstaff, was of white batten boards with a small tower, no basement, illuminated with oil lamps and heated by a coal stove.

St. Luke’s, Niles, which in 1874 was called St. Peter’s Mission, and in 1877 Advent Mission, was begun in 1870, by the Reverend Samuel Maxwell of Youngstown, and the Reverend G. Vallandigham, of Lisbon, at the suggestion of Bishop Bedell. A small chapel was built. Most of the men were connected with the steel mills, and the Panic of 1873 and the succeeding years, which closed the mills, well-nigh ended the parish.

A pitiful appeal of the wardens led to the sending of a missionary there in 1880, but there was no great improvement until good times returned, when the Reverend F. B. Avery, of Youngstown, in 1889, helped the parish to get upon its feet. There were about 38 members during those early days. In 1887, our oldest member, Lizzie Sayers (Wagstaff) name was on the roll. There were thirty communicants in 1889. In 1893 the name of the mission was changed from Advent Mission to St. Luke's.

Current Church Construction: In 1897 the present church was begun on a lot purchased from Jerry Reeves in 1896 for $1100.00 of which $950.00 was by subscriptions and $150,00 from the Parish workers. Mr. J. N. Cowdery was the agent for the lot and C. Frank Cramer the architect for the building.

Ground-breaking ceremonies and cornerstone-laying were held in the rain on June 7, 1879 with Archdeacon Brown officiating. The Rev, R. J. Walker was the minister. Trustees and building committee were M. E, Rose, J, F, Morris, L. S. Cole, Wm, A. Harris, Arlington Lodwick, Wm. Fitzwater, L, W, Bach, and John Naylor.

The First services were held in the basement on Good Friday, April 8, 1898. The minister in charge was The Rev. Charles D. Lafferty, who was ordained while in Niles.

In May 1900, a meeting was called by The Rev. H. E. Cook of Christ Church, Warren, Ohio to meet there and consider ways to finish the church, Bids for the interior woodwork and painting were received at a meeting in L. S. Coles store in June 1900. W. F. Thomas was given the contract for the woodwork for $650.00 and Davis and Salen the contract for painting and varnishing for $125.00.

Dedication ceremonies were held September 10, 1900, at 3:00 P M. by Bishop Leonard, assisted by Rev. Cook. The choir from Christ Church came on a special streetcar rented for $5.00 to sing at the service. There was an overflow crowd.

Consecration: The church was consecrated October 13, 1912 by Bishop Leonard, assisted by Archdeacon A. A. Abbott and The Rev. L. P. McDonald at a 9:30 A.M service.

Property Developments: In 1913, a rectory was purchased, and later in 1942, additional property was acquired to expand church facilities.

Bishop Leonard

Rector for St. Luke’s
Niles Daily News May 13, 1909

Appointed by Bishop Leonard:

Pastor is Rev. Thomas Bensley from London, England. The request of the parish of St. Luke’s Episcopal church for a resident rector has been fully granted, and Rev. Thomas Bensley, of London, England, who has been engaged in mission work in Cleveland since coming to the United States last February, has been appointed to the office by Bishop Leonard. The new rector will be introduced to the congregation by Arch-Deacon A.A. Abbott at a service at the church on Sunday evening and at that time will take immediate charge of the pastorate.

Rev. Mr. Bensley comes to St. Luke’s highly recommended by the bishop. He is said to be a man of energy, of broad education and pleasing personality. As he is not married, he will probably have his lodging in the home of one of the members of the parish.

The fact of Mr. Bensley’s appointment was made known to Edward Hall by Arch-Deacon Abbott at the time of the diocesan convention which closed at Youngstown yesterday afternoon and the news was brought by him to the parish, by whom it was received with rejoicing.

Original St. Luke’s Church

The growing congregation of the Episcopal church needed a larger place to gather so they laid the cornerstone for the church on Robbins Avenue on June 7, 1897.

This is one of three churches still standing that were built before 1900. The other two churches built before 1900 and still standing are St. Stephen's Catholic Church(1891) and the First Christian Church (1894) which are both located on Arlington Street.

To help eliminate crowded conditions in the church, an educational unit and office complex was added. The ground was broken May of 1962 and the addition dedicated November 28, 1962.

The interior of the church proper has been maintained as it was originally constructed.

St. Luke’s Church with an educational unit and office complex added.

Modern Updates:

On May 9, 1956, a dinner was held at the First Christian Church Parish house with 117 adults and 32 children present to present and discuss plans for a fund raising drive to build a new parish house addition to the church. The kickoff dinner was held at the First Methodist Church November 11,1956 for a building fund to run three years.

Ground-breaking ceremonies were held May 13,1962 after the 10:45 A.M. service with Archdeacon Wonders presiding. The present building was dedicated November 28,1962 by Bishop Nelson M. Burroughs, assisted by The Rev. Ernest F. Edmunds and The Rev. A. Malcome MacMillan of St. John’s, Sharon Pa.

Rev. Ernest Edmunds

St. Luke’s Renovation
Niles Daily Times September 9, 1972

“Celebration fills the minds of many because of the completion of the church renovation”, the Rev. Charles Ransom, pastor of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church stated as the church resumed its Fall and Winter schedule.

The $30,000 renovation and refurbishing project was completed during the summer creating a beautiful area of worship.

ST. LUKE’S VESTRIES
The first Parish Meeting of which there is a record reveals the fact that the majority of the members were women. On June 5, 1899 first mention of a full time Rector was noted, and the salary was $600.00 per year.

On April 29, 1900, a class of six was confirmed by Bishop Leonard. In the meantime, the first Rector, Mr. Fred Allen, had been replaced by The Rev. Henry Cook. At this time, a con
tract was let to finish the church. The church was dedicated on September 30, 1900 by Bishop Leonard.

On June 28, 1903, at an afternoon service by The Rev. Cook, the new pipe organ was used for the first time. The church was consecrated on October 13, 1912 by Bishop Leonard, The Rev. L. P. McDonald, Rector.

On Aug. 21, 1913, it was decided to purchase the Wilkes property on Linden Avenue. April 17, 1914, The Rev. A. E. Lemoine was in charge of the meeting for the first time.

May 1, 1916 made first reference to a Vestry and six were elected. January 12, 1917, the resignation of the Rector was submitted to the Vestry. On May 5, 1917, The Rev. F. C. Roberts, Rector, presided for the first time.

On Dec. 29, 1920, a committee was appointed to plan for the 50th anniversary of St. Luke’s parish. The Bishop is informed of the resignation of the Rector, The Rev. F. C. Roberts. A call was extended to The Rev. W. W. Ridgeway and he accepted.

At the Vestry meeting of March 5, 1927, the resignation of the Rector was received and accepted. At a meeting of the Vestry on Sept.12 1927, the Vestry voted unanimously to call The Rev. Barlow to the Pulpit. The Rev. Thomas B. Barlow died Monday Sept. 24, 1928.

At the Vestry meeting of Dec. 11, 1928, it was voted to inform the Bishop that the Vestry had voted to extend a call to The Rev. H. L. Woodward. At the meeting of Dec. 19, 1928, a letter of acceptance was received from Mr. Woodward.

A special meeting was called on March 31, 1935 with Bishop Rogers presiding. Mr. Woodward presented his resignation to take effect April l1, 1935. The resignation was accepted. At a meeting of the Vestry on June 5, 1935, the Vestry approved the Bishop's appointment of Mr. Brien as Rector.

At the Dec. 1, 1942 Vestry Meeting, the resignation of The Rev. Brien was presented and accepted. At the Vestry meeting of Aug. 3, 1943, a call was extended to The Rev. Ernest Edmunds. At the meeting of October 5, 1943, The Rev. Edmunds presided for the
first time.

At the September 15, 1967 meeting of the Vestry, Mr. Edmunds announced his resignation, but stated the Bishop had asked him to delay his leaving for a few months. At meeting of June 12, 1968, it was agreed. to remodel the Rectory.

At the January 8, 1969 meeting of the Vestry, The Rev. Charles Ransom presided for the first time. At the annual meeting two Women were elected to the Vestry, Mrs. John Parke and Mrs. E, J. Griffiths, Sr.

ST. LUKE'S CHOIR:
A music committee was appointed April 11, 1899 composed of Charles Carter and L.W. Each according to the first record books we have in our possession. First mention of a choir was that they sang for evening services, vested in new robes, on December 25, 1901.

During World War I the choir sang patriotic songs on the church steps after Sunday services.

In 1919 permission was given to hire talent for the choir but not to exceed $3.00 per Sunday.
Some of the soloisst in later years were Mrs. Martin (Ambrozine) Hogan, Mrs. Harold Heames, Mrs. Percy Lavarack, Mrs. Earl (Margaret) Shoemaker, Mrs. William (Betty Carter) Ries, Mrs. Ruth Kuhns, Mr. Benjamine Hickox, Mr. James
Baker, Mr. and Mrs. John Parke (Jack and Jean), Mrs. David Weitzman (Dorothy), Mr. and Mrs. William Pittaway (Bill and Mercedes), and Mr. Phil Bateman.

ST. LUKE'S ALTAR GUILD:
The Altar Guild had it’s beginning as the Auxiliary Girls organized by The Rev. Thomas Bensley about 1909 with Mrs. A.E, Piper as president.

Some of the original mambers of the Auxiliary were Mrs. Piper, Mrs. E. C. Winfield, Mrs. Ruth Clark Near, Mrs. Laura Naylor Rose, Mrs. Melvin Costley, Mrs, James Swagger, Miss Ida Parsons, Miss Ivy Randall, Miss Nona Emery, Mrs. Harry Griffiths, Mrs. Will Taylor, Miss Brown, Mrs. Mary Piper Lewis, Mrs, C. T, Winfield, Mrs. Chas, Carter, Miss Rose Sayers, Miss Daisy Randall, Mrs. Mae Underwood Cook, Miss Vera Gallagher, Miss Marian Greiner, Mrs. M, A, Jones, Mrs, Alice Lockwood, Mrs. Will Wagstaff, Miss Cora and Miss Mattie Round, and Mrs. Blanche Woods Klatt.

September 6, 1910, the name was changed to the Young Ladies Guild.

St. Luke’s Pipe Organ

ST. LUKE'S PIPE ORGAN:

On the evening of Christmas Day 1901, a vested choir was introduced into the service. On February 19, 1902 the members of the choir met and organized a movement to purchase a pipe organ. That undertaking was accomplished by Sunday June 28, 1903 when the instrument was used in worship for the first time.

At a meeting on February 19, 1902, the choir decided the time had come to procure a pipe organ for St. Luke’s. The chairman of the meeting was M.E.Rose and the secretary was Geo. Lane. James Boughton, Geo. Higgins, John Rose, C.H. Rose, C.W. Thomas, Edith Parson, Mrs. L.W. Bach, Geo. Lane and John Naylor were appointed to a committee to obtain an organ which was installed and used for the first time on June 28, 1903. It was hand pumped. It was and still is of the tracker type design- Mr. Harry Whitmarsh was paid 20¢ a Sunday to perform this chore.

A Kinetic Blower was installed in 1911 at a cost of $176.00. Previously a water pump had been in use to supply air but this turned out to be too costly.

Chimes were added and dedicated May 28, 1939 at an evening service. The broadcast system that sends the sound out of the tower was given by Edward D. Thompson of Warren.

St. Luke's Church member signatures
written at the last service.

St. Luke's Episcopal Church Last Service.

The Fifth Sunday of the Epiphany
Holy Eucharist A Liturgy of Closing
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Sunday February 9, 2025
11:00 a.m.

The history of St. Luke’s Church is extraordinarily beautiful in the self-denial and devotion of the parish family which has sustained a Christian witness here for many generations. For over 155 years this parish church has been a beacon of hope for Niles and the surrounding communities.

The work has been a testament of God’s love and for that we can say today, "Thanks be to God: St. Luke’s story does not end with the final celebration of the Eucharist today. The story of this parish will be lovingly recorded and become a permanent part of Diocesan Archives.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118, verse 24.)”

Photographs of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Surrounding the three faces of the church are beautiful stained glass windows engraved with the donor’s name.