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Augustus B. Church
(1901-1912)
Augustus Byington Church was born on January 11, 1858 in North Norwich, New York. For the first twenty years of his life he lived and worked on his family’s farm while attending district schools where he developed a love of books. He attended the Clinton Liberal Institute at Fort Plain, New York where he studied a four-year course to prepare him for the Universalist ministry. In 1882 he entered St. Lawrence University where he received an A.B. degree in 1886 and graduated from the Theological School two years later. Buchtel College conferred upon him the degree of A.M. in 1899, St. Lawrence University the degree of D.D. in 1901, and Tufts College the degree of LL.D. in 1905.
In 1888, Church began working in the ministry in South Berwick, Maine. He stayed there for two years before accepting a call to the First Universalist Church of North Adams, Massachusetts where he began work in 1890 and remained until 1897. In addition to strengthening a weakened parish, building a new church, and increasing its public standing, he revived a mission church at Cheshire, Massachusetts, was district superintendent of the churches in the western portion of the state, and served as Secretary on the city school board.
In July 1897, Church became pastor at the First Universalist Church of Akron. He also worked as an instructor in Mental and Moral Philosophy at Buchtel College and served continuously on the Board from 1898 until his death in 1912. In the summer of 1901 he was made Acting President of the College and permanent president the following month. During his tenure, two new buildings were constructed and he made an unsuccessful attempt to unite with the struggling Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois.
In 1889 Church married Anne Atwood, daughter of the Rev. I.M. Atwood, President of the Theological School at St. Lawrence University. They had four children. Church died of pneumonia on November 16, 1912 while serving as President of Buchtel College and was buried in South Edmeston, New York. His passing was a major loss to the College. He was described by the students and faculty as an approachable man with a sense of humor and a “genial personality, sterling manhood, and earnest public spirit.”
“A liberal education is to make men and women and not intellectual machines.”
– Augustus B. Church
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
After the destruction of Old Buchtel Hall, President Priest vowed to rebuild the College, serving on a committee that raised funds to construct several buildings to sustain the institution. This included new Buchtel Hall, which was dedicated and opened during commencement time in 1901 under President Church. It is the only building that remains from Buchtel College.
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
The Academy Building was started under President Priest and dedicated during commencement time in 1901 under President Church. “The Academy” was a three-story structure designed for use by the preparatory and normal schools and art school. It included laboratories, offices, recitation rooms, art room, and assembly room.
From The University of Akron Photographs Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
After the destruction of Old Buchtel Hall, President Church constructed a new women’s dormitory on Carroll Street and named it after William Pitt Curtis who donated the majority of funds. The building opened in 1905 and served a wide variety of uses until it was razed in 1958 to make room for an enlargement of the Student Center.
From The University of Akron Publications Collection in Archival Services of University Libraries
President Church was the author of the Alma Mater. After Buchtel College became a municipal university, the alumni initiated a contest to secure new lyrics and music. However, after repeated attempts never came to fruition, it remains unchanged today.
From The University of Akron President’s Office Records in Archival Services of University Libraries
President Church was the first and only President to die in office, passing away from pneumonia on November 16, 1912. Classes were suspended until the day after the funeral and all social activities were suspended for the remainder of the semester. A memorial service was held on November 24, 1912 at the First Universalist Church of Akron.
“What Dr. Church has accomplished is seen in the larger and better Buchtel of today . . . and in the newer and still greater Buchtel . . . that will be built . . . on the foundation deep and broad and strong laid by the patience and fidelity of Dr. Church.”
– Dean Albert I. Spanton