Akron Baptist Temple 🇺🇸

Discover the history of the former Akron Baptist Temple, located on Manchester Road in Akron, Ohio. Founded by Dallas F. Billington, a former Goodyear Tire employee and Kentucky native, the congregation first gathered in 1934 before officially organizing in 1935.

You will learn how this house of worship rapidly expanded into one of the earliest megachurches in the United States, at one point claiming the title of North America's largest church. By 1949, the site featured an 84-foot-tall building with prominent six-foot red neon letters spelling out "BAPTIST TEMPLE" that were visible from ten miles away. During its height, the impressive campus featured a fleet of buses to transport attendees, glass-enclosed "Babyland" nurseries, radio and television broadcasts, a record label, and the world's largest Sunday school.

Though the original facility underwent massive rebuilds—including a 4,000-seat sanctuary constructed in 1983 following a devastating 1981 fire—the congregation eventually sold the Manchester Road campus in 2018. Renamed Connect Church, the congregation moved to Coventry Township, while the original multi-building Akron site was scheduled for city demolition in early 2024.

What to see at Akron Baptist Temple

• Learn about one of America's first megachurches, founded in 1934 by Dallas F. Billington.
• Discover its historic 1949 sanctuary featuring an 84-foot tower with glowing red letters.
• Read about early urban evangelism innovations like free bus fleets and "Babyland" nurseries.
• Explore the site's media history, including WAKR-TV broadcasts and its own record label.
• Trace the church's evolution to its modern home as Connect Church in Coventry Township.

Visiting tips

Keep in mind that the original Manchester Road campus in Akron was sold in 2018 and set for emergency city demolition in early 2024, so plan to explore the congregation's ongoing history via Connect Church in Coventry Township instead.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Akron Baptist Temple is easy to reach on Akron’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Akron Art Museum and Akron Zoo. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Akron travel guide.