Cory UMC became a destination for several Civil Rights leaders throughout the mid-20th century.

In 1950 activist and scholar W.E.B. Du Bois spoke at Cory on the importance of fair and equitable pay for black folk. Civil Rights lawyer Thurgood Marshall visited in 1951.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent time at Cory between 1963-1968. On May 14, 1963, more than thirteen thousand people packed the sanctuary, hallways and sidewalks of the building to hear MLK Jr.’s first public speech after being released from Birmingham Jail.

It was from the Cory pulpit that Malcolm X delivered his first iteration of the “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech.

Originally named The Cleveland Jewish Center, Cory was built in 1922 and designed by architect Albert F. Janowitz. It was built to house the Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo congregation, including a domed synagogue to seat 3,000 people, classrooms, and community space. Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo congregation is currently known as Park Synagogue in Pepper Pike, Ohio and is an enduring partner of the Cory Glenville Community Center and the Glenville Neighborhood.

Cory UMC has served as the Glenville Recreation Center since 1961. A basketball court, swimming pool, weight rooms, and work out space have been a popular recreation destination for the community for decades. Managed by the city of Cleveland, the Recreation Center is a vital connection point with the community.

Partnering with our neighbors to create food sovereignty is something the congregation of Cory UMC has been dedicated to since the 1970’s. Thousands of families from several zip codes come to Cory for weekly groceries, toiletries and piping hot meals. Currently, Cory Kitchen serves hot meals every Tuesday, and the Cory Market is open twice a week.