The Calvary Hour was a religious radio program based out of Ohio that was broadcast internationally. It was probably the earliest use of mass media by the Mennonite Church. [1]
The Calvary Hour began in November, 1936, founded by the pastor of Sterling, Ohio’s Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church, William G. Detweiler [1] shortly after his ordination. [2] The program was based in Orrville, Ohio. [3] It was not centered around Mennonite teachings, but was generally Evangelical in nature, focusing on general preaching and Bible readings. [1] For more than twenty-five years the featured musical artists were the Amstutz Sisters Trio, [4] who also accompanied Detweiler on tour [5] and produced a series of 78 rpm records on their own record label, Faith. [6]
Although produced by Mennonites, the program never had any official standing within any Mennonite denomination, [1] in fact many refused association with the broadcast. [7] In 1951 a schism developed between followers of Detweiler's program and the denomination's Franconia Conference. [8] In 1952 the program was carried by 21 radio stations in the United States, but was available worldwide over HCJB. [3] William died in 1956, and the program continued from Orrville, Ohio, under his twin sons Bill Detweiler and Bob Detweiler. [1] In 1988 the program was heard over 30 radio stations across North and South America. [9] For the final fourteen years, the program was recorded at Colors Audio in Akron, Ohio. [10] Production of the program ended in 2007 upon Bill Detweiler's retirement; the last show was broadcast on December 30 of that year. [1] [10] The governing board felt that the audience would not transition to another speaker after the program had been in a single family for such a lengthy time period. [10]
The program was broadcast on WDAC for the entire length of production. [11]
The Calvary Hour was a religious radio program based out of Ohio that was broadcast internationally. It was probably the earliest use of mass media by the Mennonite Church. [1]
The Calvary Hour began in November, 1936, founded by the pastor of Sterling, Ohio’s Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church, William G. Detweiler [1] shortly after his ordination. [2] The program was based in Orrville, Ohio. [3] It was not centered around Mennonite teachings, but was generally Evangelical in nature, focusing on general preaching and Bible readings. [1] For more than twenty-five years the featured musical artists were the Amstutz Sisters Trio, [4] who also accompanied Detweiler on tour [5] and produced a series of 78 rpm records on their own record label, Faith. [6]
Although produced by Mennonites, the program never had any official standing within any Mennonite denomination, [1] in fact many refused association with the broadcast. [7] In 1951 a schism developed between followers of Detweiler's program and the denomination's Franconia Conference. [8] In 1952 the program was carried by 21 radio stations in the United States, but was available worldwide over HCJB. [3] William died in 1956, and the program continued from Orrville, Ohio, under his twin sons Bill Detweiler and Bob Detweiler. [1] In 1988 the program was heard over 30 radio stations across North and South America. [9] For the final fourteen years, the program was recorded at Colors Audio in Akron, Ohio. [10] Production of the program ended in 2007 upon Bill Detweiler's retirement; the last show was broadcast on December 30 of that year. [1] [10] The governing board felt that the audience would not transition to another speaker after the program had been in a single family for such a lengthy time period. [10]
The program was broadcast on WDAC for the entire length of production. [11]