Hungarian Americans of Cleveland

Cleveland Press Articles

Lyndhurst Church Launched: Hungarians Mark Rebuilding

Cleveland Press, 1952? (Spring)

Ceremonies in connection with breaking ground for a new edifice and rededicating a modernized building were conducted yesterday by two Greater Cleveland churches.

They were Lyndhurst Baptist Church, the new site for which is at 5020 Mayfield Road in the suburb, and First Magyar Presbyterian Church at 12604 Buckeye Road S.E.

At the ground-breaking service Dr. D.R. Sharpe, executive secretary of the Cleveland Baptist Association, who wielded the shovel, told the congregations:

"As I turn this sod I congratulate you, for I know that you will go down through the generations."

The morning service was conducted in the Richmond Theatre, near the church site, where the congregation has met for the last several months.

"Building for God," was the title of the sermon by Rev. Harrison E. Williams, the minister Church.

The new building will cost $175,000. The church is the former Glenville Baptist Church which for a half century was located at 737 E. 105th Street. The congregation numbers about 350.

At the rededication of First Magyar Presbyterian Church the English sermon was given by Dr. Robert B. Whyte of Old Stone Church.

The Hungarian sermon was preached by Dr. Alexander Toth of Lancaster, Pa. others who participated in the service were Rev. George O. Reemsnyder of the Presbytery of Cleveland, Rev. John Botty of Youngstown, Rev. Louis Novak of Elyria, Rev. Nicholas Varkonyi pf Beaver Falls, Pa., Rev. Alexander Marton of Youngstown and the minister, Rev. Stephen W. Csutoros.

The church was organized in 1912, when a portable chapel at E. 104th Street and Buckeye Road served as a sanctuary. Cornerstone of the present building was laid in 1915. In 1940 the church was remodeled and Sunday school rooms were added. Then in 1951 a new building project was started and the entire church sanctuary was remodeled and modernized at a cost of $33,000.

The church has approximately 1,000 members and serves the Hungarian Calvinistic people in the Buckeye Road area.