HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

               The First Community Church of Buckeye Lake had its inception in 1921 when Charles F. Miller of Basil began holding services on park benches in the rear of the Lake Breeze Hotel. The Church continued in a cottage on Mill Street called "Liberty Hall" until a successful building campaign resulted in the construction of the Miller Church in 1923.

               For over 24 years Rev. Charles Miller pastored the little Church on Picnic Point and, in 1947, upon his death, "Miller Church" closed its doors.

               The Church remained closed for six weeks until interested Christians, with the assistance of ministers from the First Community Church in Columbus, formed a constitution and changed the name to the "Miller Memorial Community Church" affiliated with the International Council of Community Churches of Columbus, Ohio.

               In August 1947, Rev. Charles Alspach of Canal Winchester was engaged as Pastor and he served faithfully until April 19, 1953.

               Continuing the progress of Miller Memorial Community Church, on April 26, 1953 Howard A. Meacham was engaged as Pastor and the need for a larger Church became evident. In 1953 the Church purchased two acres of land on Route 79 anticipating future needs of the congregation. At a Special Congregational Meeting April 13, 1958, the new Church was voted in and groundbreaking took place July 27, 1958. The first service in the new Church took place on Good Friday, March 27, 1959.

               The focal point in the beautiful Church is the stained-glass window that surmounts the chancel, a gift created by Ludwig von Gerichten of Munich, Germany.

               The following year, the congregation voted to build a four bedroom parsonage adjoining the Church. In 1961, Dr. Clyde Reed donated the Fellowship Center in memory of his wife, Mamie, which is used by all organizations. In 1969, the Bell Tower holding the original bell from Picnic Point was built in memory of Beth Braig.

               Rev. Meacham retained leadership until September 1969 when Rev. Jack Swick became the Pastor and served until June 1974.

               Rev. Edwin Baldwin was called as Pastor in 1974 and served for 15 years. During the summer of 1989, Rev. Baldwin announced his retirement from the pulpit, surprising many in attendance.

               Rev. Arnold Ettenhofer, a retired Methodist minister, provided Pastoral Care on an interim basis while a nationwide search was conducted.

               Following a search that extended for most of the next 12 months, Rev. Kevin Roach became full-time Pastor in July, 1990. Rev. Roach served the Church the next 2 1/2 years, through December 1992.

               In January, 1993, Rev. Kevin Blade was appointed Associate Pastor to serve the Church's needs while a Pastoral search was conducted.

               In August, 1993, following a search that drew applications from across the nation, Rev. David Moody became the 7th full-time minister in the 70-plus year history of the First Community Church of Buckeye Lake.

               The Church broke ground for construction of a new fellowship hall on Palm Sunday, April 5, 1998. The addition was constructed entirely through the efforts and donations of time and resources of the membership. A service dedicating the new hall, officially named Koinonia Hall, was held in conjunction with a Thanksgiving Dinner on November 18, 2001.

               Rev. Moody retained leadership until his retirement on September 20, 2011 and Rev. Kevin Blade was called as full-time minister at the Congregational Meeting in October, 2011.