The First Covenant Church of Willoughby Hills observes 116 years in the Cleveland area, beginning with eleven charter members organizing the fellowship August 25, 1889. With spiritual roots in the Reformed Protestant Christianity of Sweden, the Church is part of the immigrant “Mission Covenant” heritage, which became established in America in 1885 as the Evangelical Covenant Church. Headquartered in Chicago, Covenant churches are growing in number and currently have about 115,000 members nationwide.
Initially using rented facilities at 64th and Euclid, the congregation dedicated its first church building in 1895 at 55th and Lexington, followed by a move in 1910 to Decker and Addison Roads. Formally joining the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1951, a new church building was dedicated on Green Road in 1958, site of congregational life until 1989.
In 1989-90, the Congregation met in the Willoughby Hills Community Room until moving into its newly constructed church at 29400 Chardon Road in Willoughby Hills. The church’s membership has ranged around 100 members over the years. Currently drawing from surrounding communities as well as Willoughby Hills, members and friends of First Covenant presently number about 70. Committed to personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, sound Biblical teaching, close and encouraging fellowship, family and visitor friendly, the congregation is rebuilding its community presence with new efforts in evangelism and outreach. There is also a strong commitment to excellence in music and education programs.
The current pastor since 2004, Rev. Bill Nyerges, has served more than 23 years in Reformed Church ministries, while working more than 35 years with the Federal Government, last with the NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. His training in seminary and graduate education studies were with Ashland University.
