Our History

Methodism in our community began in 1829 when Methodist class meetings were held for the first time in a home in Cheviot. By 1840, the Methodist congregation had rented a brick church building, owned by the Presbyterians, for Saturday night services.

In 1842, a one room frame church was built on the southeast corner of Gamble and Cheviot streets and was called the Cheviot Methodist Episcopal Church. In May of 1896 the Village of Westwood was incorporated into the City of Cincinnati and on June 13, 1896 the cornerstone was laid for a large new building at the corner of Epworth and Urwiler Avenues. Sand from Jerusalem and water from the River Jordan were used in the laying of the cornerstone. Its cost of $50,000 was made possible with a congregation of only 150 members because Mr. James N. Gamble matched every dollar contribution with $5.00 of his own. The church was dedicated during Holy Week, in 1897.

Church School was held in the afternoon until October 12, 1902, the same year a new brick parsonage was built at 2946 Montclair Avenue The Men's Bible Class was chartered in 1910 and the first Youth Choir sang in 1914. Electricity replaced natural gas lights in the church building in 1917. The first Boy Scout Troops were chartered in 1918 and one of these, Troop 30, is still in active service. The choir began using robes in 1920. The first Daily Vacation Bible School in Cincinnati was organized in Westwood Church by Dr. Harley Armacost in 1923. The three-story stone Parish House was added to the Sanctuary building in 1927. At the same time, the original building was renovated and a new organ installed. The first telephone in the church building was installed in 1929.

"Homebuilders" for married couples began in 1935. Mrs. Earl Shaffer became our organist in 1937. The Unit System of contacting members in a geographical area was initiated also in 1937, along with the first full time secretary. In 1939, the three major branches of Methodism joined and we had a new name: The Westwood Methodist Church.

The "Kum Dubble Klub" was organized in 1945. The Chimes was first published in 1945. In 1941 and 1946 the Sanctuary underwent remodeling and in 1946 it was dedicated to the 171 Westwood Methodist men and women who served in World War II. In 1949, the present two services of worship were begun. The present parsonage at 3486 Epworth Avenue was purchased and the "Wesmates" married couples class and social group was begun in 1949.

There are ten bells in the steeple about ninety feet above the ground. Each bell is played manually from the bell stand or clavier about sixty feet above the sanctuary floor. Nine of the bells are stationary and have movable clappers. The clavier is reached by steps and ladder placed in the midst of the organ pipes. Three hundred hymns have been transposed to fit within the ten-note scale.

The original set of chimes was cast in 1897 by the E.W. Van Duzen Co. of Cincinnati and was installed when the church was built. This set, a gift of Mrs. James N. Gamble, was an exact copy of the grand prizewinner set of the Columbia Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Our church was the second in the city to have a carillon installed.

However, in 1905 the largest bell cracked while being tolled for evening service during bitterly cold weather. Mr. James Gamble had all ten bells recast into heavier bells of copper and tin, and the present carillon bells were dedicated on Christmas Eve in 1905. Each bell has the name of a Biblical person or hymn writer inscribed upon its side, a complete verse of scripture or hymn, and the year in which the verse was written. The largest bell weighs 1900 pounds and stands alone above the other nine bells in the steeple. The smallest weighs about 220 pounds.

Carilloneur Mr. John Wiederecht retired in 1961 after 43 years of service. Mr. Lewis Morrison began his service the same year and continued until he passed away in the fall of 1992. At that time the bells were serviced, the Moore family replaced all the leather fittings with nylon. The present carilloneurs are Mr. Jack Moore and Mr. Douglas Skidmore.