Finnish Churches in North America - Ohio

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Please send comments, corrections and updates to leif.mether@genealogia.fi.

Ashtabula - Congregational
There still exists a "Suomalainen Lähetyskirkko" (Finnish Mission Church) organization, which started many Finnish Congregational Churches in numerous states in America. The Eastern Conference still remains, and they held their 100th Annual Conference in So.Carver, MA last June. These churches received funding from the old Congregational Home Mission Society, and the first Finnish pastors came from the Evangelical Free Church organization in Finland. I believe this group had its beginnings among Swedish speaking Finns, and probably had early connections in Sweden and England.
These churches were established from New England, thru the Mid-West, and even Calif. The earliest (1891) was in Ashtabula, OH, and there was one in Brooklyn, NY (1912), another in Los Angeles (1921) - with possibly over 38 total churches, not counting several in Canada. Many have since become assimilated, and changed their names to conform to services in English, etc.
[Source: Art Jura / oldfinn@webtv.net on Finngen 12/8/99]

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Franz Karl Lehtinen came to Ashtabula, Ohio on September 11, 1889 and was the first pastor of the Finnish Congregational Church. His wife was my grandfather's sister, Maria Sofia.
[Source: Janis Helgesen / jhelgesen@mediaone.net on Finngen 12/9/99]

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What I know of Franz Lehtinen is from a book called A History of the Finns in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia by John I Kolehmainen, pub. 1977 and printed by Parta Printers, Inc. in Minnesota. It looks like the Ohio Finnish-American Historical Society had something to do with it, too. Possibly, John wrote it for them. It is a very interesting book about emigration to this area. Ashtabula (east of Cleveland, Ohio) ...
[Source: Janis Helgesen / jhelgesen@mediaone.net on Finngen 12/9/99]

Ashtabula - National
A Finnish congregation
Founded Jan. 6, 1890, legalized in 1890. A new church building was built and dedicated in 1891. The congregation was split when Williamson was accused for false doctrine in 1891 and the Suomi Synod church was founded. The original congregation joined the Finnish National Church in 1901. The congregation was split once again in 1909 because of accusations against Williamson. The congregation paid Williamson's supporters and could thus keep the church. A parsonage was built in 1935. 287 members in 1949.
Pastors:
Wm. Williamson (1890-1909)
P. Miettinen (1910-1916)
W. W. Wilen (1916-1924)
R. V. Niemi (1925)
P. Miettinen (1926-1932)
E. Penttinen (1932-1933)
G. A. Aho (1934-1946)
V. Latvala (1946-1949-)
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 345-347]

Ashtabula - Suomi Synod
Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

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Founded when the older Finnish church was divided in May 1891.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 346]

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Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

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Literature:
K. Mannerkorpi: Betania seurakunnan 25-vuotisjulkaisu.

Ashtabula Harbor - Independent
Preachers:
Arnold Botvid Anderson (1944-1945)
[Source: Saarnivaara 1947, p. 283]

Burton - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Cleveland - National
A Finnish congregation
Founded in 1903 and joined at the same time the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church. Discontinued soon.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 348]

Cleveland - National
A Finnish congregation
Founded in Jan. 1919 by pastor Wilen. A parsonage was bought 1946 and land for a church was bought 1948. 170 members in 1949.
Pastors:
Frank Pies (1942-)
Toivo Esala (1945-1948)
V. Latvala
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 348]

Cleveland - Suomi Synod
Gethsemane Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Conneaut (formerly Jester) - National
Preaching place or congregation
Belongs today to Fairport-Painesville.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 348]

Conneaut - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Fairport-Painesville - National
Evankelis-Luterilainen Immanuel seurakunta
Founded in 1890. The congregation was divided and people disappointed with Williamson's speaches founded the Suomi Synod church. A church building was finished in 1896. Joined the Finnish National Evangelical Lutheran Church. The congregation was once again split in 1909 when Williamson was fired. Both congregations used the same church in the beginning, but the independent appealed to court in 1920, which decided both churches should merge and have the same pastor. A meeting was held in 1924 and a pastor was chosen, but the independent left and built a church of their own. The original church once again joined the Finnish National Church, which they left when the congregations tried to merge. A parsonage was built in 1925, but sold the house and bought a new one in Painesville in 1946. 402 members in 1949.
Pastors:
Kokkonen (1924-)
R. V. Niemi (1924-1927)
Aho
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 347-348]

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Archival Sources:
Early records are disappeared.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 347

Conneaut-Painesville - Independent
A Finnish congregation
Founded in 1924 when the "Evankelis-Luterilainen Immanuel seurakunta" was split.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 347]

Fairport Harbor - Suomi Synod
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

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Evankelisluteerilainen Suomi Siion Seurakunta eli Suomi Kirkko
Suomi Zion Congregation or Suomi Church
Organized: Dec. 13, 1891
Incorporated: March 1, 1893
Received into membership with Suomi Synod: Sept. 18, 1900
[Source: Fairport Harborin, Ohion, Suomi Synodiin kuuluvan evankelis luterilaisen Suomi Siion seurakunnan perus- ja sivusäännöt = Constitution and By-laws of the Suomi Zion Congregation of the Suomi Synod at Fairport Harbor, Ohio. 35 p.]

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Nuorempi Suomalainen Evankelis Luterilainen seurakunta (first)
Suomi-Siion Evankelis Luterilainen seurakunta (later)
Founded when the older "Evankelis-Luterilainen Immanuel seurakunta" was split.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 347

Girard - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Jacksonville - National
Preaching place or congregation
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 348]

Jacksonville - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Lowellville - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Congregation
[Source: RW]

North Madison - Suomi Synod
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Perry - National
Preaching place or congregation
Belongs today to Fairport-Painesville.
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 348]

Warren - National
Preaching place or congregation
[Source: Kansalliskirkko 1949, p. 348]

Warren - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]

Archival Sources:
Finnish-American Historical Archives, Hancock

Youngstown - Suomi Synod
Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
[Source: RW]