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Perry Christian Church History

Perry Christian Church had a unique and historic beginning.  The credit for our existence belongs to a pioneer, Eleazer Parmly and family.  They came to Perry in 1817.  He purchased a farm near Lake Erie and being devout Christians worshipped with a Baptist Church in Perry.  Revivals were frequent occurrences in early days and one summer day, Eleaser’s son, David Parmly, hitched up the horses and went over to Mentor to a great revival going on there in order to hear the advocates of a ‘new doctrine’ as it was then called (this became Mentor Christian Church with its beginning in March, 1828).  Pleased with the preaching and finding the Spirit of the Lord among them, he joined the Disciples in their communion service.  News of this act came quickly to Perry and a Church meeting was called to try him on the charge of heresy.  No defense was admitted, and he was declared guilty of the charge of heresy and excluded from the membership of the Baptist Church in Perry.  Mr. Parmly walked out of the house, Bible in hand, and taking his position under the shade of trees, read the scriptures to those around him and explained the stand of these Disciples.  Thus came about the beginning of the Perry Christian Church bringing into it a number from the Baptists.  Soon Sidney Rigdon came and held revival meetings, increasing its membership.

Our Church was originally known as the Church of Christ in the town of Perry, Ohio.  It was organized by Elder Sidney Ridgon on August 7, 1829.  They first met in the Parmly School House on Blakemore Road.  That building has since been swallowed by Lake Erie. 

In 1867, Jehail Parmly donated land for a parsonage on North Ridge Road.  He also donated the land beside the current Church building on Center Road to be used as a cemetery.  The parsonage was built in 1868 and still stands today.  A new parsonage was built on Center Road in 1949, and was sold in December 30, 2004.

The land where the current church building is now located, 3566 Center Road, was donated either by the Parmly Family or the Sinclair Family.  The present brick building was erected in 1885.  All activities took place in this one room sanctuary.  During this time period everyone stayed after Church and had dinner together -- a nice tradition.  Another nice tradition was created around baptisms; the congregation filled the baptistery by carrying buckets of water from down the road.  This way each person had a part in welcoming new members into the family.

The Fellowship Hall was added onto the sanctuary in 1925.  Fellowship Hall served as a dining room, Sunday school classroom and gymnasium.  It was called the Educational Plant or the Chapel.  The Church was offering religious education in conjunction with the Perry School System at that time.  In 1948 the Supreme Court decisionsaid that it was unconstitutional to teach religion to school children so the program was discontinued.

The parking lot across the street from the current church building was bought in 1957.  There was a house standing there that the Church rented out.  In 1982, after it was condemned, it was given to the fire department who burned it as part of their training program.

Currently, Perry Christian Church is pursuing the vision to build a new building on Call Road.   Joe Myers is the architect and Barry Deming has been hired as the construction manager. 

Rev. Janet Mers joined us on August 1, 2005 to continue our history of ever moving forward into the future.  Together we are looking forward to building a new church building on Call Road and expanding our ministry and out reach into the community.  

It is now 2007.  Perry Christian Church has experienced many blessings throughout the past 178 years.  We pray that the next 178 years will bring even more blessings.  With God's help Perry Christian Church will continue to serve our Lord, and our community.