Since 1802, the Poland Presbyterian Church has been located at the Village Green in Poland, the same location for two hundred consecutive years of ministry in Christian service. Throughout eastern United States there are churches with longer tenures of service, but not many who've remained at the same site for two centuries.

Once the Constitution of the United States was ratified in 1789, the westward movement of people began. The State of Connecticut claimed the northeast section of Ohio and opened the territory for settlement in 1796. Town One-Range One is Poland, founded that year. Turhand Kirtland from Wallingford, Connecticut served as agent for the Connecticut Land Company who surveyed the territory. He made provisions for the Green, cemetery, and church in Poland, named in honor of generals from the country of Poland who assisted the Connecticut Army during the Revolutionary War. Seven Veterans of the American Revolution are buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church.

Four different church buildings have been at the site over the years. The current stone church building celebrated its centennial in 1997. The Parish House was purchased in 1947 and in 1958 the two buildings were linked by the construction of the three level Christian education building.

Poland Presbyterian Church is a member of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America (PCUSA). More information about PCUSA can be obtained by accessing the website linked below.

www.pcusa.org

Poland Presbyterian is the largest church in Eastminister Presbytery which comprises fifty-six PCUSA congregations in the greater Akron/Youngstown metropolitan area. More information about Eastminister Presbytery can be obtained by accessing the website linked below.

www.faithfulness.com

Though an old church the congregation, today, is relatively new.

The church family of over 800 members is a balanced blend of the generations, but the presence of young parents and their children is unique for a mainline Protestant church these days. The congregation is a "new church" so to speak in that half the membership has joined in the past ten years which probably accounts for the welcoming spirit- a people new to the church always being far more likely to welcoming those who are the newest!

A commitment to ministries of Christian education for children, youth and adults has been a hallmark over the years, starting with Protestant parochial education until 1870 when the Presbyterian seminary was sold to the public and why the name Poland Seminary High School continues to this day.

The involvement of children and youth in the matriculation process of Christian education, today, is a marvel to behold, resulting from the zeal that the adult church community has for maintaining an excellent Sunday School, identified as Sunday PLUS ministries, featuring the Workshop Rotation Model, and in being Logos System Associates for preschool and K-6 on Wednesday afternoons and on Sunday evenings for teenagers.

Not only are there excellent ministries for children and youth, but for everyone. Each day of the week something is going on for someone, though it is impossible for anyone to participate in every ministry that goes on day by day. Whereas no one can do everything, the hope is that everyone will do something meaningful in Christian service, for each person to have a ministry. The Poland Presbyterian Church is a model for participatory ministry.

The church's full-service ministry provides a balance in program ministry with pastoral ministry. No one is left out! Though Poland Presbyterian is a corporate church, the personal touch in ministry prevails.

The Poland Presbyterian Church upholds the historic sacred music of the Christian Church in Poland as evidenced by the installation of a custom-made Holtkamp Pipe Organ which was installed and dedicated in 1999. It is a two manual instrument with 24 stops and 1,744 pipes. The various choirs for children, youth, and adults involve 175 members of the church family.

Nothing goes hand in hand at Christmas as Poland and the Poland Presbyterian Church. The place to be on Christmas Eve is the Poland Presbyterian Church with identical services at 4:00, 7:00 and 10:00. The beauty of the sanctuary and the exquisite music with instrumentalists and choirs lends itself to an occasion to experience the meaning of Christmas. Each year over 1000 people attend the services, featuring a candlelighting ceremony at each service in the custom of Connecticut Western Reserve and the Ringing of the 1850 Tower Bell with the singing of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

Excellence in ministry prevails at Easter, too with identical services at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00.

The mission enterprise of the congregation to those in need is significant. Many bridges are built between the suburban church and the inner city of Youngstown, highlighted by 75 church members who participate in the mission meal ministries, preparing meals at the church and transporting the meals to the Salvation Army. The congregation contributes a tithe of its resources to those in need in the Mahoning Valley and through the worldwide ministries of Presbyterian Church USA.

The lengthy tenure of service by pastors over the years is proof of their devotion to the Poland Presbyterian Church. Serving for over a decade has been the norm for each pastor/head of staff. Two of the past pastors served for 24 years. They were Dr. Algernon McMaster (1854-1878) and Dr. Hugh Gunn (1947-1971). The Rev. Dr. Robert Philip Hoover served 17 years (1987-2004) while the Rev. Dr. George Mehaffey served 14 years (1971-1985). The Rev. Dr. David Gilbert is the current pastor, coming to Poland in 2007.