On October 29, 2017, the final deconsecration service of the North Royalton United Methodist Church (NRUMC) was held with current and former members and pastors. NRUMC was a vital part of the community for 181 years. Throughout the years, celebrations of life were shared with Harvest Dinners, Meals on Wheels, Boy Scouts, Kiwanis club dinners, NR Community Band, worldwide communion and missions, bible studies, prayer chains, men’s and women’s groups, rummage sales, vacation bible school, youth community work week, Amazing 80’s, and thousands of sermons.
The North Royalton United Methodist Church began with the Circuit Riders from 1836-1883. In 1860 the first building was built at the corner of Wallings and Ridge Roads. In 1889 the church building was lifted onto logs, rolled and pulled by horses to the new site by the village green. In 1923 the church received extensive remodeling with the addition of a large stained glass window, commemorating three wars, and side colored glass windows that read like a “Who’s Who” of early North Royalton, dedicated to city leaders, including H. Akins (1885) and S. Edgerton (1889). This work was largely credited to Pastor Ralph Staley, a quiet benefactor supplying labor, personal money and inspiration to rebuild the church when it was about to close its doors. By 1954 more space was needed and an education building was constructed behind the existing church. The 1954 cornerstone is evident on the building today. To accommodate a membership of 750, more land was acquired and a new contemporary style sanctuary was completed in 1960.
The church bell originally purchased in 1888 and placed in the tower in 1900 was refurbished in 1994. It was relocated near the church entry and dedicated as a memorial to Warren Fowler. It has now been presented to the North Royalton Historical Society, who agreed to maintain and display it in the community.
From 1975-2000 the old church served as a theater for the Royalton Players. After a bid for sale, attempts were made to preserve it as a historical building but those efforts failed due to a lack of funding. After a deconsecration service, the old church was torn down on June 5, 2000.
NRUMC was caught in a rapidly changing environment with shrinking pastoral personnel, shifting Christian participation, and restructuring debt. It was a community icon and it will be missed.


Submitted by Gini Kucmanic