Founded after local members chose to separate from the city’s Methodist congregation, Our Lord’s Church was created with a focus on honesty, inclusion and community care. Former member Duane McAtee said the decision to form a new church came after disagreements with church leadership at the time and a desire to build a congregation rooted more deeply and directly in service.

“We broke off from the Methodist Church and formed a new church,” McAtee said. “From the beginning, we wanted to do things differently and focus on the people in the community.”

That focus quickly became the Solon church’s identity. McAtee, who served on the church board and headed various projects for several years, said outreach efforts were central to the congregation’s mission almost immediately, shaping both its internal culture and its role in the broader community.

One of the most impactful efforts was the church’s free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Open to anyone in the community, the meals welcomed neighbors regardless of need or church affiliation, creating a space where residents could gather and connect.

“We started with about 25 people,” McAtee said. “Eventually, we were serving close to 100 every year. People would be driving by, stop in and join us for dinner.”

In addition to the holiday meals, the church launched the Soup Project, a weekly Saturday soup program that provided free meals to residents in Solon and Ely. Church families rotated responsibility, preparing and delivering soup each week as a shared commitment.

“It started with about ten people,” McAtee said. “Before long, we were serving 15 or 16 people a day. Different families took turns, and it became something everyone looked forward to.”

For McAtee, the importance of these programs went beyond providing food.

“It made us feel good to be doing something for the community,” he said. “It was not just about helping people who were struggling. We opened our doors to everyone.”

Over time, while the congregation remained small, its dedication never wavered. McAtee said volunteerism and consistency were what sustained the church and allowed its outreach efforts to continue year after year.

Recently, a plaque was installed on the former church building to honor the legacy of Our Lord’s Church and its contributions to the community. The plaque was organized by Sandy Hanson in collaboration with the Solon Senior Advocates, a local organization focused on strengthening connections among older adults and preserving community history.

The Solon Senior Advocates are involved in a range of community projects, including organizing group meals, social and exercise programs, monthly outings and bus trips, “Meal and a Movie” events, and publishing a regular newsletter for local seniors. Members of the group believe honoring Our Lord’s Church aligned closely with their mission of recognizing service that brought people together and supported community well-being.

The goal of the plaque is to preserve the memory of the church and acknowledge the impact it had on Solon residents, even after its doors have closed.

Our Lord’s Church officially closed in 2023 after membership declined to around a dozen remaining members. McAtee said that while the congregation was small, its commitment to the community was strong and enduring.

“We were a very small church,” he said, “but we did a lot for the city. I do not see many places doing things like free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners anymore. I think that matters.”

As the building moves into its next chapter, the legacy of Our Lord’s Church lives on through the meals shared, the hours volunteered and the lasting sense of community it fostered in Solon.