Downtown in Cleveland in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Old Stone Church

Established 1820

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2021

1. The Old Stone Church Marker

Inscription. The spire which rises above this tower stands as a tribute to those pioneers and early settlers of Cleveland, many of whom were members of this church, whose deep inner faith and resulting spiritual strength enabled them to lay the strong foundations upon which this great city has been built. As the spire symbolizes their faith, so it also calls the citizens of every new day to emulate the example of those early settlers by giving of themselves to the further building of this city that it might continue to live through its service to its people.

”Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”
Psalm 127:1

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1820.

Location. 41° 30.021′ N, 81° 41.671′ W. Marker is in Cleveland, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Ontario Street and Public Square (Rockwell Avenue), on the left when traveling south on Ontario Street. Marker is mounted at eye-level directly on the southeast corner of the subject building, facing Ontario Street.

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Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 91 Public Square, Cleveland OH 44113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named The Old Stone Church (a few steps from this marker); Old Stone Church Bell (a few steps from this marker); Daniel's Way (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jurisprudence (about 500 feet away); Abraham Lincoln's Funeral in Cleveland (about 500 feet away); Howard M. Metzenbaum (about 600 feet away); Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (about 600 feet away); Commerce (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cleveland.

Regarding The Old Stone Church. National Register of Historic Places #73001414.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. The Old Stone Church

Also see . . .
1. Old Stone Church.

Possibly Cleveland's best-known religious building, Old Stone Church is a symbol of the city's birth and development. The church is the oldest standing structure on Public Square and is home to the second oldest religious organization in Cleveland. Origins of the church's congregation date back to meetings of the Union Sunday
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2021

2. The Old Stone Church Marker
Marker is mounted at eye-level on southeast corner of church.
School held on the second-floor of Cleveland's first log cabin courthouse in 1819.

(Submitted on February 20, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Old Stone Church.

On September 19, 1820, fifteen Clevelanders, some ten percent of the then-village's population, signed a charter officially establishing the congregation. It was formally incorporated in 1827 as The First Presbyterian Society, and in 1834 the first church was built out of gray sandstone. The interior featured a gallery suspended by iron rods, reportedly a first in a Cleveland public building, as well as the city's first pipe organ. Because of its building materials, First Presbyterian was called "the Stone Church," and as other stone churches were erected in the area, it became known as the "Old Stone Church."

(Submitted on February 20, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Old Stone Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2021

3. Old Stone Church

National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2021

4. National Register of Historic Places

This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

Cleveland Landmark № 22 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2021

5. Cleveland Landmark № 22

Old Stone Church - Establishen 1820 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 18, 2021

6. Old Stone Church - Establishen 1820

In the walkway near the church entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 20, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 249 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 20, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.