Jones, Sam, Memorial United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Completed in 1907, this Cartersville church is a Classical Revival building of beige brick with granite trim, a full entablature and a portico carried by four Corinthian columns. Atlanta architect Walter T. Downing designed it. Inside, the two-story sanctuary keeps its original pews, fluted Corinthian pilasters and wainscoting, along with brass hardware and steam heat fixtures. The congregation traces its roots to the 1830s and has worshipped on this site since the 1840s, in a wooden church, then a brick one dedicated in 1872, and finally the present building. Construction was underway when evangelist Sam P. Jones, a church member and one of the town's best-known citizens, died in 1906, and the congregation named the new church in his memory. Later changes included a basement excavated in 1933, stained glass windows added in 1945 and a chancel remodeled in 1973. The listing recognizes its architecture and its place in local history.
Significance in brief: The church is significant in architecture as a fine Classical Revival example with a full entablature and portico, and as a work of architect Walter T. Downing. It is significant in local history as the home of one of the county's oldest Methodist congregations. It is also named for evangelist Sam P. Jones, whose death in 1906 during construction led to its memorial name.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85001972, listed September 5, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 W. Church St., Cartersville |
|---|---|
| County | Bartow County |
| Listed | September 5, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001972 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1907) |
| Architect / builder | Walter T. Downing |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a church; condition marked excellent, with alterations including a 1933 basement excavation, 1945 stained glass windows and a 1973 chancel remodeling. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Within district | Cartersville Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.16629, -84.79768 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85001972.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7407718
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.