Church Design
Fire in 1948

A Renaissance Tower in East Cleveland

In 1906, Windermere Methodist pastor Ner Stroup and his wife, Emma Cartwright Stroup, took a study leave in at Magdalen College in Oxford, England. When he returned to begin work on the first church edifice, he resolved that it would center around a tower modeled after the 1509 tower at Magdalen, one of the finest Renaissance towers in England. Below is the architect J. C. Fulton's drawing for this church that was completed in 1909.
Church in 1909

Windermere Renaissance Corp. draws its symbol from this drawing. This magnificent church could seat up to 1,400 people. It had Tiffany glass windows (one of these has survived), a large pipe organ and a church orchestra. However, this church building was completely destroyed by fire in 1948. Only the tower survived. Nevertheless, the congregation resolved to rebuild in East Cleveland - a "Renaissance."

In 1949 Architect Travis Walsh designed a new church edifice around the old tower. His drawing is below. This building was erected in stages over the next several years. Some stone salvaged from the original church was used to build the Holyoke portico entrance into the tower. Windermere Renaissance now occupies the library room above this portico - see the lower photo to the left.

The 90-year-old tower was repaired and re-roofed in 1999. Lightning rods were added for protection. In 2004 the congregation illuminated the tower to become a beacon of hope in the heart of East Cleveland. Extensive repairs and improvements to the entire church have been undertaken since 2001, and more are planned.

We now plan a second "Renaissance." By 2009, when the tower is a century old, we hope that a renewed and revitalized neighborhood will be visible in all directions from this tower.