SUTCH A HISTORY: The Last Decade
(1986-1996) with Isabel Sutch

Isabel Sutch died on November 30, 1996. A Memorial Service was held on December 2, 1996. We will always remember our beloved Isabel Sutch. Thank you, God, for Izzy!

Dr. Bach's ministerial interests included training as a pastoral counseling therapist, chairing the Breckenridge local Retirement Community Board (1990-91) and the state-wide Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Communities Board (1992-94), providing leadership as President of the Board of Trustees of our Synod of the Covenant (Ohio and Michigan Presbyterian churches), serving on the General Presbyter Search Committee and chairing the Budget and Finance unit of the Presbytery, serving on the Building Committee (ex-officio) for the new sanctuary and the planning committee for the new Nason Center for Personal Care and Alzheimer's disease.

The Church and Society Committee of the Session has evolved out of our great concern for hunger and peacemaking, chaired by an elder at large, functioning to encourage involvement in hunger alleviation and peacemaking, with adult bible studies several times a year, dinners, walks, and other events. Dr. Bach has walked three "big walks" from April till November and in his walking over 1800 miles, the congregation has donated close to $2000 to the Food Pantry, Interchurch Council Hunger Task Force, and Hospice of the Western Reserve.

The other boards of the Session have been instrumental in many ways with expanding the church in ministry and mission. With expansion have come some changes in our format and style of church life. The Trustees of the Church, whose duties are primarily concerned with the maintenance and care of the church, have added responsibilities upon the dissolution of the Building Committee in 1994. Any further work of the former Building Committee will now be done by the Trustees. Together with volunteers, the Trustees have painted the outside windows of the Christian Education wing, and in 1994 will attempt to paint the outside windows of the WPG Community Room.

The Landscape Committee, an offshoot of the Building Committee, has been busy, and it shows. Many beautiful flower beds, shrubs, trees, and flowers have been planted according to a Landscaping Master Plan. As this is an ongoing committee, there are many more additions planned. All the beautiful surroundings are dedicated to the glory of God.

With interest funds from the Beall legacy, our Deacons have been able to expand and extend their humanitarian works, helping the hungry, the lonely, and the poor. In addition, the following church activities make for a busy and productive deacon ministry: communion phone calls to the entire congregation, printed manual listing all deacon duties and functions, Easter Sunrise Breakfast, Breckenridge Tea, pictures and ribbons to honor new members as they join our church, street signs strategically placed, locating our church in Willoughby, brochure of the church, steak roast, and the annual big event, the spaghetti supper. The deacons truly do foster friendliness and interest in our church.

An active Christian Education Board under the leadership of CE elders and our part-time Christian Education Director, Jane Strancar, has expanded to new heights with many motivated volunteer teachers: worship in the woods twice each year, Vacation Church School, The Together Group, Christmas Programs, Carol Choir, garden parties, movies and holiday caroling. CELEBRATE is the denominational curriculum which our Session has used with our children for the past six years. Materials have been updated to be more contemporary and teacher-friendly, while continuing to combine theological understanding with sound education practices. The Christian Education remodeling of existing space is ongoing, and to date, two bathrooms have been built for small children . The Carol Parks legacy has been used to make the Christian Education rooms more attractive, with the purchase of colorful rugs in the Crib Room and Toddler Room. The Trustees will add new molding around the perimeter of the large room and presently we have plans to put up a wall with doors, creating quiet and secure classroom space while still allowing for medium sized groups to use the open area of the old primary room.

The Senior High group raises money with car washes, muffin sales, etc. to afford ten day back-packing trips each summer. The Senior Highs under the leadership of elders Barbara and Gary Brown, collect items for Christmas at North Church, and help the children of the neighborhood in and around North Church have a merry Christmas through their special work in the Christmas room.

With the retirement of our full time secretary, a part-time secretary was hired and an answering machine added to help provide constant contact with Dr. Bach. 

A Session long-range planning committee was formed in 1986 to consider the feasibility of remodeling and expanding the existing structure. A new sanctuary was never considered in the Study.

In 1988 the report of the Long Range Planning Committee was not received with favor because many of the church family thought a new sanctuary should be considered. A secret ballot was held at an informal congregational meeting to see if a consensus might be reached. The overwhelming majority, present and voting, favored the planning and construction of a new sanctuary. Thus, in 1988, an intensive Session study began to ascertain whether or not we could afford such an expensive project.

In 1989, after a thorough study of all phases of financing, including using undesignated Memorial Funds and Funds designated for building expansion and after the willingness of church families to help fund such a project was identified through a five year pledge campaign, the Session reported at a congregational meeting that the way was clear to build. The Session presented both architectural plans for the new building and a financial plan which would use only pledges for the Building project along with the named gifts and bequests for future building expansion. The plans were for a new sanctuary, a South Wing, including a parlor, library, storage rooms, bathrooms, and remodeling of the Christian Education wing. These plans and the study were well received by the congregation, who approved the building of our new sanctuary and Parlor Wing. New construction was to be financed by memorial funds, bequests, pledges from members and friends, and a construction loan. All financing would be guided through the leadership of the Building Committee.

As we approached the decade of the 1990's, little did we know that our cherished dream of a new Sanctuary would become a reality! Our hopes and prayers came true with the announcement that we had sufficient funds to begin building. On Pentecost Sunday, May 31, 1992, a ground-breaking ceremony was held with construction actually beginning on June 29, 1992.

Various fund raising events were held to raise additional funds for the Building Campaign. One was a steak dinner and auction which netted nearly $5000. With the joint cooperation of the Building Committee, gifts, bequests, and pledges, the financial outlook on our major undertaking was improved.

The builder and good weather made it possible to complete the new Sanctuary in the spring, and on April 16, 1993, one week after Easter, we dedicated our sanctuary to the glory of God. The dedication service was coordinated with Dr. Bach, The Rev. Timothy Thomas, and Dr. William Gross participating in a prayerful, thankful service, followed by a lovely reception given by the Presbyterian Women of the Church.

The Sanctuary was far more beautiful than we ever anticipated. The Western Reserve architecture was carried throughout the building with long, slim windows lending a feeling of spaciousness to the Sanctuary inside, while outside, the landscaping gave a feeling of God's beauty all around. The same Western Reserve motif was followed in decorating with off-white walls and shades of gray on the ceiling. Oak and white pews with soft blue seats, and thick blue carpeting added to the feeling and made a breathtaking sight. All this was set off with wall sconces and suspended brass ceiling lamps and completed with two stained glass windows on the inside and outside of the building over the choir area. These two windows were crafted by a member of our church family. A lovely circular drive has been added in front of the church giving easy access for the handicapped and those who enjoy walking to church. A bus to and from Breckenridge Village has also been added and the circle drive provides an easy turn around for the bus. Parking space remains the same and a ramp has been added with a railing for safety.

Our church organ was moved to the new Sanctuary and the new acoustics have enhanced the sound. Organ cloth now covers the pipes and complements the new choir robes given by a member of the church family.

An elevated Chancel with the pulpit on the left and the lectern on the right, gives an unobstructed view of the choir, the pastor, and the children when they present programs. The Communion Table (built in 1850 and known as Joseph's Bench) was moved to the new Sanctuary along with the marble baptismal font. This font has been instrumental in the baptism of our children for more than a hundred years.

On either side of the Chancel area are two small rooms. The room on the left is for storage of bell choir equipment and the one on the right is known as the Sacristy room and serves as storage for Communion Trays and flower arrangements for Sunday services. The room has a sink and water for fresh flower arranging, for the baptismal font during baptisms, and for watering plants. As one leaves the Sanctuary, under the time honored "old rugged cross", a verse from Genesis 28:16 appears on the back wall and reads, "Surely God is here with us; how awesome is this place." This verse is a fitting tribute and personifies the innermost feelings of our Presbyterian church family.

The "old" parlor is our "new" Narthex and is separated from the Sanctuary by a soundproof glass wall of windows. A new sound system makes it pleasant to hear the joyful worshipful sounds of the people in worship. The Narthex is a great aid for mothers with babies and for people who prefer not to sit in the Sanctuary. The Narthex is furnished attractively in maple and on the wall is a black walnut plaque with the names of donors to the Building Fund. To be added is a shelf below with a book of Memorial donors to the Building Fund. In addition there will be a book to honor living members and friends of the church. As families, leave the Narthex, the words "GO IN PEACE" stand out above the door.

On May 3, 1993 the William P. Gross Community Room was dedicated to honor "Bill", our church pastor of 41 years. The room is now available for larger groups in the community, for other organizations of the church, for coffee hour, and for wedding receptions. The stage area of this room was renovated into a storage and dressing area for the choir. A lovely reception followed the formal dedication of the WPG Community Room.

The South Wing continues off the Narthex with a long hall of windows (the gallery) and restroom on the East side before it approaches the Isabel Sutch Library and the Mantey Family Parlor.

The Mantey Family Parlor was a dream of Eleanor Mantey and was funded by its namesake for a " parlor someday." The parlor was dedicated on May 22, 1994 and marked a sense of accomplishment for many women of the church. A reception followed. (History of the Women's Association {1993} can be seen in the album in the library, Presbyterian Women section.)

Long slimline walnut framed windows at the end of the parlor continue the Western Reserve tradition and are flanked on each end by full bay windows of the same style. Glass and brass candelabra offer a bright glow of serenity to the thickly carpeted, richly furnished room. Furnished by the Women's Association with matching grants from undesignated Memorials from the Session, this room will be used for all kinds of church functions, including women's ministry, small groups like the Session, and as a chapel for small weddings and funerals.

Since beautiful music and beautiful nature are synonymous, it is a fitting tribute to have a brick patio named for the Savage family. The Savage family has been an integral part of our church for many years and their music capabilities have added greatly to the enjoyment of worship for our congregation. The patio is entered by double doors from the gallery (South Hall), and the garden surrounding the patio is beautifully landscaped with burning bushes and flowers, making the many coffee hours held there in the summer months a real joy to be behold. It is also ideal for bridal picture taking. The Savage Family Patio will be dedicated in the summer of 1994.

Across the Hall from the patio is the Isabel M. Sutch Library... a dream in blue, Isabel's favorite color. The library is well stocked and arranged in a computerized fashion. There is a data manual to research any book by author, title, location, and subject matter. The room itself is suitable for small meetings and groups. A pass through window to the parlor is another added feature (facilitating serving and clean up from the parlor). Stained glass windows on the East wall and blue, pleated blinds on the West wall and a full length mirror make this room ideal as a bride's dressing room, giving privacy and comfort which we could not previously offer. The stained glass windows on either side of the door, the folding table, and the lamp were all made by a member of the church. The Isabel M. Sutch Library was dedicated on June 26, 1994 with a lovely tribute to Isabel, complete with flowers and a plaque.

From time to time the Sanctuary and surroundings have been enriched with many meaningful and thoughtful accessories, such as: new paraments, a brass cross, new music holders, new bibles and hymnbooks. These have added to the beauty and the Glory of God.

With the new addition, the Church when viewed from above now forms a perfect cross.

The stained glass window in our beautiful Sanctuary shines as a beacon of God's love for all who seek comfort and compassion.

May the spirit which has sustained Presbyterians throughout the generations 
stay alive and be alive in our Church today.

.Return to History Page