About Us
History of Central Congregational Church
On March 4, 1830, the Second Congregational Church was organized in Madison Village (then called Centerville). As a congregation we are mindful of the hard work and dedication that created the church so long ago and support the theory, “Our past is central to our future by faith.”
Pastor Rick Hughes has been in ministry for the past 14 years. Prior to entering the ministry he was a teacher / administrator for 21 years. He is married to Kathy and they have two adult chrildren. Kathy is a speech pathologist, Adam is a computer engineer, and Emily is a senior at ICF in Tokyo, Japan. Pastor Rick, (which is the way he prefers to be called), is Bible based in his preaching.
Choir \ Handbells Director, Betty Jean (B.J.) Green has been involved in church music her whole life. As a teenager she sang in the choir of the Congregational Church in Westfield, N.J. and learned to play a small organ in the chapel there. B.J. graduated from Hiram College with a Music Education major. Moving to Painesville for her first music teaching job, she joined First Church Congregational where she directed the junior choir and sang in the adult choir where she met her future husband, Joe Green. Joe and B.J. moved to Madison in 1960. Their three children Robbie, Beth and Chris, grew up here. Music has always been an important part of their lives too.
B.J. has been organist at Central for 46 years. During that time she has been director of the Good News Ringers handbell team, and Chancel Choir director. She is grateful for the support of the congregation and the musicians who help make music an important ministry, enriching the worship life of our church family and our community.
Moderator of Central Congregational Church, Cheryl Swackhamer she presides at monthly Church Council meetings as well as congregational meetings. She enjoys working with all the groups and individuals who help make our church a living and vital community of believers.
Other church related activities in which Cheryl is active include Chancel Choir, Good News Ringers, Mary-Martha group, Women's Fellowship Executive Board, Board of Worship and Music, and Sunday School. She is involved in other community activities such as the Madison Historical Society, the Madison Food Center, the YMCA, Friends of the Library, the Messiah Chorus of Lake County and the Madison Village Charter Commission.
Cheryl earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master's from West Virginia University. She and her late husband, Dick, were teachers and retired from Madison Local Schools. Their children, Amy and Tyson, grew up in Madison and graduated from MHS.
Central Congregational Church
71 Park StreetMadison, Ohio 44057
PH: 440-428-3802
FAX: 440-428-6601
central6601@windstream.net
Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 12 Noon Mon.-Thurs.
