Our History
The idea of a Unitarian church west of the Cuyahoga River, encouraged in 1945 by Dr. Everett Moore Baker, minister of First Church in Cleveland, was brought to fruition in less than a year's time by 129 charter members. At West Shore's first annual meeting on May 14, 1946, the congregation unanimously called their mentor, Wayne Shuttee, as minister. The first services were held in the Lakewood Masonic Temple in the fall of 1946.
The people of West Shore moved resolutely forward from their humble beginnings and in 1949, held their first building fund drive. This enabled them to acquire at a tax sale, 3.2 acres of relative wilderness in Rocky River. Unfortunately, before the church building could be completed, Dr. Everett Moore Baker was killed in a plane crash. To honor his role in the establishment of West Shore, the church named the first Sanctuary built on the property "Baker Hall." In May of 1952, the early building, consisting of a smaller version of Baker Hall, a few classrooms, and offices for the Minister and the Director of Religious Education, housed the first Hilliard Boulevard services. By this time, the congregation had grown to 374 members.
The pioneering congregation spread the word, bringing in hosts of new members and their children. In 1955, Reverend Wayne Shuttee was succeeded by Dr. Peter Samsom. In his nine years of ministry, the congregation grew from 500 to 900 members. His tenure was marked by a strong commitment to civil rights and a tackling of segregation and racial issues, with a widening view of our church's role. The Unitarian and Universalist denominations merged. Dr. Samsom oversaw the construction of a $500,000 main sanctuary and a preschool wing, which were completed in 1962. West Shore attained its present physical dimensions at that time.
Dr. Samsom moved on in 1965 and was followed by Reverend James Curtis. Those were difficult times both for West Shore and the culture at large. Reverend Curtis brought to West Shore innovative worship ideas and a poet's heart. He was succeeded in 1968 by the Reverend David Cole. Reverend Cole remained for the next eighteen years. During controversial times in society, he led the congregation as a leader in liberal thought and expression.
As our church evolved, so did our church school. We have had many Directors of Religious Education throughout the years. From 1976 to 2004 Reverend Dr. Marjorie Skwire has provided a stable foundation for our program. A landmark event on November 23, 1980, was her ordination to the Unitarian Universalist ministry in the church sanctuary. In 2004 we welcomed a new Director of Lifespan Faith Development (renamed from Religious Education) long-time member Kathy Strawser.
Reverend Michael McGee succeeded Reverend Cole in 1988. He was instrumental in helping the congregation establish partner relationships with two congregations in Europe, one in Transylvania and another in Budapest, Hungary, leading a group of West Shore members to visit both congregations in 1992. Reverend McGee left in 1999 to serve the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Virginia.
West Shore voted to start our next chapter in history by calling the parish co-ministry team of Reverend Kathleen Rolenz and Reverend Wayne Arnason in June 2000.
Adapted & edited from West Shore: The First Fifty Years,
by Dottie Black
