The West Side Hungarian Reformed Church will mark its 120th anniversary with a commemorative service at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, followed by a buffet dinner in Calvin Hall at the church, 15300 Puritas Ave. The celebration is open to the community.
The anniversary looks back to 1906, when the west-side Hungarian congregation formally separated from the larger Hungarian Reformed congregation and established the West Side Hungarian Reformed Church.
The church’s early story reflects how faith and community life grew together. In 1923, the congregation acquired a church at West 32nd Street and Carroll Avenue. Its Calvin Hall became a gathering place for Cleveland’s west-side Hungarian community, while the church organized Sunday school and summer Hungarian-language classes for children.
The congregation later supported Hungarian newcomers displaced by World War II and refugees who fled Hungary after the 1956 revolution. In 1976, it moved west to its present Puritas Avenue location, as members settled farther from the old neighborhood. The church continues to hold worship services in both Hungarian and English.
The Nov. 21 service and banquet will celebrate the congregation’s history and its continuing place in Cleveland’s Hungarian community. The requested dinner donation is $25 for adults and $20 for children and students. Reservations and prepayment are required by Nov. 7. For details and reservations, contact the church office at 216-476-3736 or wshreformedchurch@gmail.com.
