Cincinnati Enquirer, September 24, 1927
Historically, Fairfax residents have had a variety of
churches in and near the village in which to worship. In this article, we will
focus on the three most long-term churches in the community, Fairfax
Presbyterian Church, Fairfax Church of the Nazarene, and St. Margaret of
Cortona Parish.
Fairfax Presbyterian Church
Fairfax Presbyterian Church traced its origins back to
1918 when L.W. Destler, an elder of the Madisonville Presbyterian Church,
sought to establish a Sunday School in the new Fairfax Subdivision. He began
visiting homes in the area and soon 75 people were gathering to worship in a
building on Wooster Pike. By 1922, a Ladies Aid Society had been organized.
In time, the group bought a one-room frame storehouse on
Wooster Pike at Watterson. The church was formally organized on July 20, 1924.
There were 50 charter members and three elders, William Stedefeldt, Warren
Hunt, and George Vanderbeek. Nine trustees were chosen soon thereafter. The
church was expected to draw congregants from 150 families in the Fairfax area.
Original Fairfax Presbyterian Church building.
Cincinnati Post, January 8, 1923
The first pastor was Rev. William D. Malcolm, D.D. Rev.
Malcolm had primarily been involved in home missions and church extensions work
with the Presbyterian Church. He had previously helped establish churches in
Oakley, West Price Hill, and Mt. Washington.
Cincinnati Enquirer, July 21, 1924
Rev. William D. Malcolm, D.D.
Cincinnati Enquirer, February 9, 1953
In the spring of 1929, the 80-year-old Fourth
Presbyterian Church in the Over the Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati announced
that it would disband and sell its building. The proceeds from the sale would
be invested in the Fairfax Presbyterian Church, which, at that point, was
expected to take the Fourth Presbyterian name. Fourth Presbyterian sold its
property to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons),
which established its first Cincinnati church at that location.
A few months later, a proposed merger was announced
between the “ghost” congregation of Fourth Presbyterian, the 300-member
congregation of Madisonville Presbyterian, and the 100-member congregation of
Fairfax Presbyterian. The Fairfax congregation was initially hesitant,
but by January 1931, the congregations had agreed to merge. The merged Eastminster
Presbyterian Church, with leadership from both Madisonville and Fairfax
congregations, incorporated with the State of Ohio on July 3, 1931. The plan
was to build a new $125,000 church, possibly at the corner of Bramble and
Whetsel. Each church would continue to operate independently until the merger
was completed, then both pastors would resign and a new pastor would be selected.
In 1932, the
congregations voted to discontinue the merger. Fairfax Presbyterian
Church filed its own articles of incorporation on September 6, 1936. Edward
Collins, Andrew Graf, Jr., and Karl Yochum signed as the organization’s
incorporators. (Incidentally, the Eastminster [formerly Madisonville]
Presbyterian Church is still in operation in its same building on Erie Avenue
and the 170-year-old Fourth Presbyterian building, now converted to housing, is
still standing on Orchard Street in Over the Rhine.)
Although several additions and improvements had been made
to the small building over the years, as the congregation grew, a larger church
was needed. In January 1938, the church bought land on Southern Avenue at
Hawthorne Street for a new church.
Fairfax Presbyterian church on Wooster Pike, shortly before the new building
on Southern Avenue opened. From A History of the Village of Fairfax
by Elizabeth Steele and Patricia Kuderer
A month later, Fairfax Presbyterian’s pastor, Rev. W. D.
Malcolm, retired from active ministry after leading the church for over 13
years. His replacement was Rev. Herbert Hezlep, D.D. who also pastored Calvary
Presbyterian Church in Plainville. Rev. Hezlep was former moderator of the Cincinnati
Presbytery, former chairman of the National Missions Committee, and Pastor
Emeritus of Knox Presbyterian Church in Hyde Park. Rev. Hezlep typically
preached at Fairfax on Sunday mornings and Calvary on Sunday evenings.
Rev. Herbert Hezlep, D.D.
Cincinnati Enquirer, March 9, 1953
The first service at the new church on Southern Avenue
was on October 29, 1939. Rev. Hezlep’s sermon was “The Church of God.” The
church was formally dedicated on June 9, 1940. The Cincinnati Enquirer
reported that the church was dedicated without debt. The church had the
proceeds from the sale of the Fourth Presbyterian Church a decade earlier and
the Cincinnati Board of National Missions chipped in the rest.
Cincinnati Enquirer, June 8, 1940
There were many activities at the church. The Ladies
Guild had an annual luncheon and bazaar, the church sponsored the local Boy
Scout troop, they held dances, and got the Fairfax Teen Canteen rolling. The
church also became a popular wedding venue, sometimes a little too popular:
The Messenger, September 6, 1946
The Christian education building was built in 1954 and
the church further expanded in 1966 with a renovated sanctuary.
The Fairfax Presbyterian Church appears to have been a little
more progressive than most with respect to accepting women in leadership
positions. The church’s first women elders, Susan Ford and Vivian Kissinger,
were elected in 1930. In 1967, Fairfax Presbyterian pastor, Rev. David Hadden,
wrote an article for the Cincinnati Enquirer expressing his belief that women
should be welcomed into ministry. He pointed out the difficulties faced by
prospective women pastors who, despite their training, had little chance of
being chosen for a pastorate if there was a male applicant for the same position.
In late 1980, Fairfax Presbyterian Church made a little
local history when it became the first church in the Presbytery of Cincinnati
to choose a woman as pastor. Now, the Presbytery had previously placed
female clergy in “stated supply” positions, but Fairfax was the first to select
a woman pastor. The Presbyterian Church had allowed women to be ordained 25
years earlier. Rev. Willa Roghair was installed as pastor of Fairfax
Presbyterian Church on May 3, 1981. Rev. Roghair said the problem with placing
women in pastorates was not with the Presbyterian Church, but with the
congregations, “They can’t quite envision a woman as pastor.” Of Fairfax
Presbyterian she said, “I have been here a month now, a wonderful month. I have
really felt received, not just accepted.” Rev. Roghair remained at the Fairfax
church until 1984.
Eastern Hills Journal, January 27, 1982
Sadly, as has happened with many churches in recent
years, an aging congregation and decreasing attendance took a toll on Fairfax
Presbyterian Church. In 2013, the church was sold and now houses the New Life
Worship Center Church of God. Fairfax Presbyterian continued to conduct
services in the church for a few years after the sale, before finally
dissolving the church in late 2017. The Fairfax Church and Calvary Presbyterian
Church in Plainville had shared a pastor for some time. Many of the remaining
members of the Fairfax Church transferred to the Calvary Presbyterian Church.
Fairfax Presbyterian Church in 2008
From hamiltoncountyauditor.org
Fairfax Church of the Nazarene (The Church at Fairfax)
The Fairfax
Church of the Nazarene also started on Wooster Pike, about a block west of the
Presbyterian Church. In March 1929, Rev. George Galloway, a 20-year-old
minister from Arkansas, set up a tent there and conducted services. Later, the church
rented a storefront where services were held. By the end of the 1929 church
year, the Fairfax church had 23 members, among whom was 23-year-old Emma
Whitney, who would remain a faithful member of the church until she passed away
83 years later in 2013.
The church was
formally organized on March 24, 1930. The congregation purchased land at 3710
Southern Ave. in Fairfax and built a church. The building still stands and is
currently the Edward C. Gehlert Post 554 of the American Legion.
Post 554 of the American Legion, originally Fairfax Church of the Nazarene
January 2024
A book given to my father in 1941 by his Sunday School teacher,
Martha Abner, at Fairfax Church of the Nazarene
Through the
years, the congregation grew and by the end of 1942 there were 62 members.
In 1944, Rev.
Lester L. Meyer was called to Fairfax Church of the Nazarene. When Rev. Meyer arrived in Fairfax, the average weekly Sunday School attendance was 51. Within
a year, the average attendance had risen to 88.
The Messenger, April 5, 1946
On October 20,
1947, the church purchased two lots at the corner of Watterson and Hawthorne
and began raising money to build a new church.
The
church had a penny drive and filled a bushel basket with pennies, raising $435. The
endeavor was featured in a November 15, 1949 Cincinnati
Post article.
Rev. Albert J.
Shea came to the Fairfax Church of the Nazarene in 1952. On February 7, 1954,
Rev. Shea broke ground for the new church at the corner of Watterson and
Hawthorne. The old church on Southern
Avenue was sold and the congregation worshipped at Fairfax Elementary School
until the new church was nearly completed.
Groundbreaking for the new building at the corner of Watterson and
Hawthorne, February 7, 1954
The
first service at the new church was held in the church basement on September
12, 1954.
The first
service in the new building's sanctuary was on February 20, 1955. The church was dedicated on
Easter Sunday afternoon April 10, 1955, with former pastors George Galloway, O.
A. Singleton, L. L. Fish, N. C. McNelly, and Lester Meyer participating.
On September
21, 1956, the church purchased a lot on Southern Avenue for the construction of
a parsonage. The parsonage was completed in 1960 and the Shea family was the
first to reside there. The mortgage on the church was paid off and burned in
1961, before the Sheas left Fairfax.
In the fall of 1962, Rev. H.C. Watson officiated at the wedding of my parents,
Shirley Donaldson and Lee Davis. Members of the wedding party were
Ray Kuhn,
Jim Pfister, Al Hayes, Helen Donaldson, Sue Cranfill, and Mary Hayes.
Rev. Virgil
Applegate came to Fairfax in 1964. The church purchased additional properties
while Rev. Applegate was pastor. In September 1964, the church bought the lot
next to parsonage on Southern Avenue. In May 1965, the house next to the church
was purchased and provided additional room for Sunday School classes,
children’s church, and fellowship. It also added a kitchen to the church
property. In 1967, the church had record average weekly Sunday School
attendance of 150, so the extra room was truly needed.
Cincinnati Post, August 17, 1968
Teen Sunday School class with teacher JoAnn Gunter,
approximately 1974
Ribbon from 50th anniversary celebration in 1979,
Rev. Howard Becker, pastor
Rev. Robert
Highley was called to Fairfax Church of the Nazarene in 1981. The congregation
had many opportunities for fellowship during these years including a senior
adult group, ladies group, youth outings, men’s prayer breakfasts, a
softball team, monthly birthday and anniversary fellowships, children’s
outings, and Sunday School class gatherings.
Dr. Doug Van
Nest came to pastor Fairfax Church of the Nazarene in 1992. The church
underwent many changes during the next few years. The house next to the church was
demolished to make room for a church expansion that provided a multi-purpose
room, warming kitchen, nursery, pastor’s office, new church entrance, and first
floor restrooms. Also, the sanctuary was renovated with new pews, windows, and
carpeting. To help limit costs, the congregation did much of the finishing
work, including the painting and staining. The church addition was dedicated in
December 1996.
Groundbreaking for the church addition.
Rev. Jack
Bimber came to Fairfax Church of the Nazarene in 1999 and holds the distinction
of serving the Fairfax church the longest, 20 years.
The 75th anniversary celebration featured a choir consisting of ministers who
had pastored or attended the church, under the direction of Jim Pfister. Choir members
included Reverends Jim Williams, Robert Atkinson, Dennis Dean, Virgil Applegate,
Howard Becker, Amos Bowker, and Robert Highley.
During these
years, the church pursued new opportunities for outreach to the community,
including sponsoring the Fairfax Community Easter Egg Hunt and the Fall
Harvest, a festival in the church parking lot.
Community Easter Egg Hunt, March 26, 2016
Of the three
churches featured in this piece, Fairfax Church of the Nazarene is the only one
still holding services in the Village of Fairfax. (Fairfax Village Church and New Life Worship Center also conduct services in the village.)
Fairfax Church of the Nazarene/The Church at Fairfax
January 2024
St. Margaret of Cortona Parish
The history of
St. Margaret of Cortona parish dates back to January 26, 1919 when two young
women, Margaret Metz and Loretta Linnemann, began holding catechism classes in
their homes. A year later, St. Margaret of Cortona parish was established to
serve South Madisonville and Fairfax. Rev. Harry Ansbury was appointed to
organize the new parish and he first said mass on June 5, 1921 at the home of
Mrs. John Linnemann.
The original
church on Watterson was completed in 1921 and was dedicated by Archbishop Henry
Moeller on September 11, 1921. In 1922, a frame school building was also built
on Watterson. The new parish served 115 families.
St. Margaret buildings on Watterson Road, exact date unknown.
From University of Cincinnati Library Digital Resource Commons,
Street Construction and Improvements collection
The first
structure built at the location at Simpson and Murray was a four-room brick
school. The school was open for inspection at the parish’s sixth anniversary
celebration on September 9, 1927 and was formally dedicated on September 30,
1927.
St. Margaret of Cortona School
From eastsidefaith.org/history
Rev. Ansbury
transferred to a church in Dayton, Ohio in November 1935. In September 1936,
St. Margaret of Cortona parish celebrated its 15th anniversary with its
new pastor, Rev. Eugene Gerlach, as celebrant and Rev. Ansbury delivering the
sermon.
From Cincinnati Post, September 9, 1936
In the mid to
late 1940s, parishioners began making plans for expanding the school and adding
a new church at the same site. At that point, the school had around 400
students.
Parishioners Clifford Mulvaney, Mary Ann Mulvaney, Al Bokenkotter,
Mrs. C. Mulvaney, Rev. Basil Haneberg, Mrs. Carl Frank, Mrs. Carl Hessler,
Ed Noschang, and A.J. Bokenkotter view the site of the proposed addition
to St. Margaret of Cortona school.
From The Messenger, September 20, 1946
By September
1950, the new building wasn’t quite ready to be fully occupied, but the
cafeteria was available for a chicken dinner during the church’s annual
festival. The building was completed in time for Midnight Christmas Mass, which
was led by Rev. Basil Haneberg. The new construction included four classrooms,
an art room, church nave and sanctuary, sacristy, choir loft, kitchen, library,
and recreation room.
Cincinnati Post, January 30, 1950
Through the
years, there were numerous activities available for parishioners, such as
Rosary Altar Society, Athletic Club, Teenagers Club, Monte Carlo nights, festivals,
Christmas boutiques, Boy and Girl Scouts, bingo, fish fries, and chicken, roast
beef, turkey, and spaghetti dinners.
The Messenger, May 15, 1953
The interior of
the church was remodeled in 1971, as part of the church’s 50th
anniversary.
Eastern Hills Journal, October 15, 1986
By
the parish’s 70th anniversary in 1991, St. Margaret of Cortona
served around 550 families. However, the school’s enrollment was dropping and
was down to 175 by the 1995-96 school year.
Cincinnati Enquirer, September 28, 2001
Enrollment at the school continued to decline. In January 2002, St. Margaret pastor Rev. Len Fecko
announced that St. Margaret of Cortona school would merge with Cure of Ars
school in Madison Place. Each school had only around 100 students. The merged
school became known as Prince of Peace and used the St. Margaret building. In
addition, Rev. Fecko started pastoring St. John Vianney, the parent church of
Cure of Ars, though the two parishes remained separate.
School
enrollment and church attendance continued to decline. In September 2008, St.
Margaret of Cortona and St. John Vianney parishes merged, creating St. Margaret
– St. John Parish. Initially, mass continued to be celebrated at both parishes,
but St. John Vianney celebrated its last mass on June 1, 2014. Prince of Peace
school closed at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
As part of the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Beacons of Light initiative, St. Margaret – St.
John was amalgamated into St. Cecilia Church in Oakley. The final mass at St.
Margaret – St. John Parish was on August 28, 2022. St. Margaret of Cortona was
“relegated to profane but not sordid use” by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on
July 1, 2023 and has since been listed for sale.
In late August
2023, I noticed a splash of pink in front of St. Margaret’s door. Between two
neglected planters, there was a snapdragon. I don’t know how it got there, but
to me it seemed to be a memorial to over 100 years of worship. I have since learned that there is a poem by Cardinal John Henry Newman entitled “Snapdragon: a Riddle for a Flower Book.” I’ll leave it up to those of you who are literary experts or theologians to find meaning in the snapdragons.
The former site of St. Margaret - St. John Parish
January 2024
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