Our Heritage

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH (an American Baptist Church) was first organized as a mission for a small group of Hungarian immigrants in 1912, under the sponsorship of the First Baptist Church of Elyria, Ohio.

Following an influx of European immigrants into the greater Cleveland area at the turn of the 20th century, those Hungarian Baptists who located in Lorain County had two choices: they could either attend an English speaking church locally or travel 25 miles into Cleveland to attend Hungarian speaking churches there. Naturally, they longed for church services nearer to their homes and in their native language.

Julia Szirka

It was Mrs. Laszlo (Julia) Szirka (born circa 1880), who served as the catalyst in the establishment of this Hungarian Baptist mission. Through an interpreter, she successfully pleaded the Hungarian cause to the officials of the First Baptist Church where she was attending.

Arrangements were made for students from the Hungarian Baptist Seminary in Cleveland to serve the mission. Although church services were held in various homes, Andrew & Julia Papp's home at 338 Vulcan Avenue was considered the regular meeting place after their move from Cleveland. At one time, this home was shared with the Szirka family.

As years went by and attendance increased, services were moved to a school with plans to build a church at 206 West River Road and Turner (Second) Avenue in Elyria. The First Baptist Church continued its sponsorship, financially and spiritually, for the better part of a decade, until the Hungarians were able to build their own church. On October 7, 1920, thirty Hungarians, including their first full-time minister, Laszlo Revesz, "lettered out" of the First Baptist Church into the newly established First Hungarian Baptist Church of Elyria. Those charter families were: Baky, Boros, Buty (Butti), Gary (Garay), Gabor, Haidu (Haydn), Lengyel, Sedlak, Kesckes, Kish, Kostos, Kugzelka, Mago, Nagy, Papp, Revesz, Szirka, and Zoebie.

By 1954, as second-generation Hungarian-Americans moved to the helm of the church, Hungarian-speaking members became a minority. The youth of the church could not identify with the language spoken in worship services and began to walk away. It was clear that the time had come to point the church in a new direction or face extinction. Two "bold decisions" were made: the church became English-speaking, and its name was changed to Calvary Baptist Church.

These brave moves proved to be prudent ones. Within a few short years, the church on West River Road was bustling, and in 1962, a trailer had to set beside the church to accommodate overflowing Sunday School classes. It was at this time that families from West Virginia became affiliated with the church, adding to our number. When land was needed to build a larger church, Alex and Lena Yosa generously donated a large parcel in East Carlisle Township for this purpose. The church on West River Road was sold and services were held at East Carlisle Elementary School until the new church building was completed. Another member, Miss Ada Smith, a school teacher, donated her home at 1835 Grafton Road, which served as the parsonage for many years, until the home next to the new church became available for purchase.

Unfortunately, the historic structure that had been our church for 44 years has since been torn down. Even the home of Andrew Papp on Vulcan Avenue where the majority of early church services were held, no longer exists. Both sites are now part of the Gateway Interbelt in Elyria proper.

The beloved church on West River Road served its purpose well. Early Lorain County Hungarian Baptists established their first roots there. It served as a transitional bridge - a place where Hungarians could worship in a familiar way and in their mother tongue, easing the process for these new settlers, as they became part of the great melting pot of America.

As all eyes became focused on the future, not even the smallest hands were idle in the construction of the new church on Hope Court! Everyone was, in some way, a part of the process. And on Sunday, May 3, 1964, the congregation ceremoniously walked - in procession - from the East Carlisle Elementary School to their new church home at 114 Hope Court – our beautiful church in the wood.

We welcome you to join us as we continue our walk into a new millennium!

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