Dover Congregational UCC

Weekly Sunday Services -- 8:15 and 10:00 am

ALL ARE WELCOME

Our Story:

The Beginning

Dover Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) was the first church founded in Westlake, Bay Village and North Olmsted. We enjoy a rich history dating back to the late 18th Century when Moses Cleaveland surveyed the Western Reserve extension of Connecticut. In the far northeast corner was the Dover Township, which now includes Bay Village, Westlake and part of North Olmsted. On June 2, 1811, the First Congregational Church of Lee, Massachusetts commissioned that a church be organized in this area. That church was Dover UCC.

Building a Congregation

Families with the familiar street names of Cahoon, Porter and Crocker were among the first settlers, followed shortly by the Cooleys, Westons and others. In 1818, a corporation was formed called Dover Congregational and a log meeting house was built in 1822. A white frame church house was completed in 1836. In the 1840s the church divided over the question of slavery, but was reunited in 1847. The church was the social center for not only worship and Sunday school, but also many social activities. On Easter Sunday 1910, the yellow brick building was opened.

Coming Together, Moving Forward

In 1957, the Congregational Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Churches merged to become the United Church of Christ and Dover became Dover Congregational United Church of Christ. On November 9, 1958, the fourth meeting house of Dover Congregational was opened, and in 1990, the Church was updated and expanded its class rooms and meeting hall.
Over the years, Dover has been blessed with almost thirty pastors providing ministerial leadership and guidance. The last two, Rev. Rudy Thomas and Rev. Scott Patterson for a combined 48 years. Its Lay Leadership (Council) over the years has come from many of our local community leaders.
Our newest paster, Rev. Keith Stuart, comes to us from First Congregatoinal UCC in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He began his term in our church in June, 2012.