Bay congregation finds new home Avon Lake

Gene Sherman (left), rector of Christ Church Westshore, and The Right Reverend Ronald Jackson, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes, shared in leading Christ Church's first worship service in the Calvary Baptist Church building in Avon Lake. Photo by Matt Litzler

Christ Church Westshore, an Anglican church most recently worshipping at Bay Middle School, has moved to Avon Lake, sharing the building with Calvary Baptist Church at 32607 Electric Boulevard. The first service sharing the building was on June 12.

For now, the two congregations of two different denominations will share the building, with Calvary Baptist services remaining at 9 and 10:45 a.m. in the Worship Center on Sundays and Christ Church Westshore services being held in the Fellowship Room at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Eventually, Calvary Baptist hopes to build a new church on land purchased several years ago by the congregation and located at Lear and Krebs roads in Avon Lake. Christ Church Westshore would then purchase the Electric Boulevard property.

“The Calvary church facility now will be one church with two expressions of the Kingdom," said Gene Sherman, rector of Christ Church Westshore and an Avon Lake resident. "The Baptist and Anglican denominations are similar in many ways, in that they share the Gospel and are faithful to the authority of the Bible. We are very much looking forward to a new home at Calvary and in Avon Lake.”

For Christ Church Westshore, the first Sunday at Calvary on June 12 was marked with an honored visitor – The Right Reverend Ronald Jackson, who recently was consecrated as bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes. Bishop Jackson resides in Cuyahoga Falls with his wife, Patty. 

“We are honored to serve Christ Church Westshore by sharing our building, as well as by continuing to be a light to the surrounding community reaching people with the gospel," said Pastor David Skelton of Calvary Baptist. "This is an exciting time for both congregations and for the community at large here on the west side of Cleveland.”

For nearly five years, Christ Church Westshore has been without a permanent building. After leaving the St. Barnabas building at Bradley and Wolf roads in Bay Village, the congregation – originally established in 1947 – worshiped at Bay High School for six months and then remained at Bay Middle School from 2012 to the present. Bay Presbyterian Church has very generously provided office space for Christ Church’s clergy and office staff.  

The Christ Church congregation will continue to be involved in its many outreach initiatives, including Community Resource Services, Young Life and Operation Christmas Child. In addition, Christ Church offers a wide variety of fellowship opportunities, including men’s and women’s bible studies, Sunday School classes and youth group.  
Beginning on July 3, both Calvary Baptist and Christ Church Westshore will alter their service times. Calvary Baptist will embark on a 10-week study of the Ten Commandments at one 10 a.m. service. Christ Church Westshore will have services at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Starting on Sept. 11, both churches will return to the school-year scheduling and times listed previously. 

Christ Church Westshore leadership includes Reverend Gene Sherman, rector; Reverend Sean Templeton, assistant rector; and Reverend Robert Andrew, associate rector.  The congregation draws residents from Bay Village, Westlake, Avon Lake, Avon, Rocky River, Lakewood and other western suburbs of Cleveland. The parish belongs to the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes, and it is a member of the Anglican Church in North America.

The phone number for Christ Church Westshore is 440-899-7151 and the mailing address will remain 25415 Lake Road, Bay Village.

Read More on Faith & Spirituality
Volume 8, Issue 12, Posted 9:31 AM, 06.21.2016