The Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) will host its 2025 Benefit on Friday, Nov. 21 in the Ballroom at the Park Lane.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with guided tours of two CRS Sacred Landmarks—historically significant religious properties that represent the finest craftsmanship and architectural talent of their day.

The historic Park Lane Villa in University Circle.The two landmarks are University Circle United Methodist Church (UCUMC), 1919 E. 107^th St., and Pentecostal Church of Christ (PCOC), 10515 Chester Ave.

Both churches are designated Cleveland Landmarks and contributing structures to the Wade Park National Register Historic District. Following the tours, guests will gather for a reception at 6:30 p.m. at the Park Lane ballroom.

"We happen to have these two wonderful places within walking distance of our reception place, so [the venue] just made wonderful sense," says Peggy Sexton, CRS events manager, who adds that Sacred Landmarks in the Wade Park area will be at the center of discussions before and during the event.

In fact, the benefit will highlight all of CRS' work with Sacred Landmarks throughout Cleveland. Lann has been involved with both churches featured at the benefit through the CRS Sacred Landmark Support Initiative—providing technical assistance, construction advice, fundraising support, and letters of support for grant applications.

The two churches being featured in November represent different challenges facing historic religious buildings today, says Lann, challenges like maintaining and restoring the buildings, funding the repairs, and potentially adapting a church building for a new use.

Both UCUMC and PCOC are Cleveland Landmarks and contributing structures to the Wade Park National Register Historic District.

Pentecostal Church of Christ
The Pentecostal Church of Christ continues to operate as an active congregation and demonstrates successful preservation efforts.

"I think the Pentecostal Church has done such a great job,” Lann says. “That building is really very beautiful and has been well maintained, but there's still a lot of need. I think it's a good example of, despite being able to do as many projects as they did, they still need to do more. But it shows off what that restored space can look like."

Pentecostal Church of Christ.Constructed between 1918 and 1920 as the Fourth Church of Christ, Scientist, in 1980 the building became home to the Pentecostal Church of Christ—the oldest Pentecostal Church in Cleveland, having assembled in 1935.

Designed by the Cleveland firm of Briggs and Nelson, the Romanesque Revival style building is impressive both inside and out. The grand Neo-Classical entrance faces E. 105^th Street with a full-width portico set at the top of a massive staircase. Five entrances situated beneath the decorative terracotta and brick façade welcome visitors.

Inside, the narthex is clad in marble, rich woodwork, decorative plaster and floral inspired torchieres mounted along the wall. The sanctuary is stunning beneath an intricately detailed cove ceiling with plaster relief.

Floor to ceiling pilasters feature capitals finished in gold leaf, and two completely gold Corinthian columns flank the altar. Tripartite stained-glass windows with colorful geometric floral patterns are oriented at the north and the south end of the sanctuary, which is oriented east to west in an unusual layout.

Pews of rich wood are positioned in a semi-circle sloping towards the altar along the east wall. A recessed balcony positioned beneath vaulted arch openings on the west wall expands the space so that the sanctuary can seat 1600 people. The architectural elements inside the sanctuary have been fully restored and are magnificent.

Work to repair and restore the exterior of the Pentecostal Church of Christ is now needed, and, like so many historic religious buildings, there are funding challenges.

The tour will highlight what needs to be done and how the church is pursuing new funding sources, while celebrating what has been accomplished in this beautiful sacred space.

University Circle United Methodist Church
University Circle United Methodist Church faces a different future. While the congregation continues to hold 11 a.m. services, the church has been listed for sale.

As it transitions ownership, the building may be adapted for a new purpose that will serve the community..

University Circle United Methodist Church spire.“We’re helping make connections for new developers, potential buyers of University Circle UMC, and with the preservation community in Cleveland—to advocate for a great adaptive reuse of the building," Lann says. "Unfortunately, the way just national trends in religion are going, more and more sacred spaces will have to be adapted into some other type of use. It's a good opportunity for people to think about and learn about that happening in Cleveland."

UCUMC presents unique preservation opportunities because of its architectural significance and prime location, continues Lann.

"It's such an unusual piece of architecture. It's iconic in Cleveland, and it sits on a very desirable and valuable piece of land—overlooking the Wade Lagoon, kind of at the entrance of University Circle," she explains. "There are so many great things that the building could be adapted into that would be appreciated by the community."

She explains that CRS wants the historic structure to find a new life. "We want to make sure that that building is reused, rather than demolished [to build] a new apartment building or something on the space," Lann says.

Sexton says she wants to engage attendees in imagining possibilities for the space. “I'm saying something like, ‘you know, here's your opportunity to imagine what you would do with this space,’" she says.

Completed in 1926, UCUMC’s presence in University Circle has been strong. Nationally acclaimed architect Bertram Goodhue designed the building, and after Goodhue’s death in 1924, Cleveland architectural firm Walker and Weeks worked with Goodhue’s office to complete the project.

The church was commissioned by the Epworth Euclid Methodist Church, which occupied the building until 2010, when it combined with First United Methodist Church of Cleveland to form the University Circle United Methodist Church, which has operated in the church building until recently.

In his book “A Guide to Greater Cleveland’s Sacred Landmarks,” author Lloyd H. Ellis wrote, “University Circle United Methodist, a modern building in superficial historical dress, is an aching reminder of what the fifty-five-year-old Goodhue might have done and where the American architectural modernism might have gone on a road less taken.”

UCUMC is a modern building that alludes to the Gothic tradition. The shape of its spire has caused some to affectionately name it Church of the Holy Oil Can but was likely inspired by the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey in France. The Art Deco patterned copper on the lower part of the spire contrasts with more traditional French Gothic-style elements, such as pointed arches, buttresses, and a rose window.

The deco theme continues in the sculptures by Leo Friedlander, who also provided artwork for Rockefeller Center in New York City. The high vaulted interior ceilings, a richly carved chancel rail, and stained-glass windows give the church an elevated elegance.

In addition to the churches, contributing structures to the Wade Park National Register Historic District are included in the event.

Sticking with the trend
Not surprisingly, Cleveland Restoration Society has a tradition of hosting its fundraisers in historic locations each year.

"Last year we were at Majestic Hall; the year before we were at Longfellow [Elementary School] in Collinwood, the city school that was adapted,” recalls Sexton. “Every year is something really different."

The Cleveland Restoration Society will host its 2025 Benefit in the Ballroom at the historic Park Villa. Lane.This year’s Park Lane venue adds another layer of historic interest to the evening, the organizers say. The building began as a hotel before being converted to luxury apartments, representing another example of successful adaptive reuse of historic architecture.

The a luxury Park Lane Villa hotel was built in 1923 and has adapted throughout the last century—from serving as a speakeasy in the 1920s, a concert venue in the 1960 when it hosted folk legends like Bob Dylan and Arlo Guthrie, to emerging into today’s elegant wedding venue that highlights the building's grand architectural detail.

Lann says adding the church tours to the fundraising event provides an extra level of enthusiasm to CRS supporters— who always love a good story about Cleveland’s historical architecture and architects. “It adds that extra twist to the benefit, I think, she says, “[instead of] just a party.”

After the church tours on Nov. 21, the reception begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Ballroom at Park Lane—“an historic Beaux Arts jewel.” The reception includes live music by poly-genre string ensemble Opus 216, heavy Hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, and a raffle.

Tickets and sponsorships
Sexton says sponsorships for the 2025 CRS benefit are still available, ranging from $3,000 to $7,000, and CRS continues to offer program advertising space. The deadline to purchase sponsorships and advertisements is 5:00 pm on Friday, Nov. 7. “We're still looking for sponsors, of course,” she says. “It's not too late to sponsor the event."

Individual tickets are $200 each, while $400 patron tickets include your name in the program and $315 is tax deductible. The deadline to purchase tickets is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Contact Sexton with any questions.