Franklin Circle Christian Church

Specialties

Our Mission is to empower disciples to serve and glorify God.

We care for the spiritual needs of a culturally diverse community, encourage creativity, and awaken people to the joys of life with Jesus Christ.

We are open to and affirming of all people regardless of gender, race, age, culture, ethnic background, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, or difference in ability as we continue to embody our vision of God’s peace and justice.

Our motto:

Widening The Circle For ALL God’s Children!

History

Established in 1842.

On February 11, 1842, John Henry, a renowned preacher, arrived in Ohio City to open a series of meetings. There was much excitement about his message, and on February 20^th, in that same year, a church of thirty-​two members was organized in a small building on Vermont Street (Main Avenue and West 28^th Street). For a time, services were held across the Cuyahoga River in Apollo Hall and Empire Hall (West 6^th Street and Superior Avenue).

In 1848, they began work on their own house of worship (where the West Side Masonic Temple stands). The 64’x40’ building was affectionately known as «God’s Barn». At this time the shipping industry played an important part in the life of Cleveland, and it is said that there were seven ship captains who were members of Franklin Circle Church, as it was known in 1842.

For more of our history, go to our website, click on the «Who We Are» tab on the left hand side, and then the «Our History» tab at the top of the page.

Meet the Manager

Allen H.

Manager

Allen Harris is the Pastor of Franklin Circle Christian Church. He was called as a Redevelopment Pastor to the historic, diverse, urban congregation in the spring of 2001 in hopes of helping the congregation to reclaim a clear sense of its identity and to renew its mission to the community. In April of 2004 the Region of Ohio and the congregation affirmed the workAllen and the congregation had done to revitalize the church and they called him to continue to be their Pastor.

Rev. Harris moved to Cleveland from New York city with his partner of 18 years, the Rev. Craig Hoffman, in 2000 after a 10 year pastorate at Park Avenue Christian Church in Manhattan. Allen was privileged to serve as Associate to the Rev. John Wade Payne for nine of those ten years. While serving as Associate Pastor at Park Avenue Christian Rev. Harris was ordained into ministry on Pentecost Sunday, 1991.

For more on Rev. Harris, go to our website and click the «Our Pastor» tab on the left hand side.