Methodist Tabernacle
Also known as: St. Mark Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1912-1913, this brick church at 1605 Third Avenue in Columbus was designed by architect Thomas Firth Lockwood and built by H.A. Granger. It was erected by worshippers leaving the old Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church South, who called themselves the Methodist Tabernacle; in 1916 the name changed to St. Mark Methodist Church. The Greek cross plan has a gable roof and a central octagonal dome, with Tuscan columns flanking the entrance, a keystone over the flanking windows, semicircular gable windows with finials, and dentil moulding. The church served its congregation for more than 60 years in the once-elite High Uptown neighborhood, until the congregation moved to Whitesville Road after the area declined. It is regarded as the only Classical Revival church in downtown Columbus, with proportions apparently drawn from Jeffersonian classicism. A two-story classroom addition from 1954 stands to the north. The sanctuary is now vacant.
Significance in brief: The church is significant in religion because it housed one of the city's oldest congregations for over 60 years, in what was then one of Columbus' most impressive neighborhoods. It is significant in architecture as the only example of Classical Revival church construction in the downtown area. The architect apparently borrowed from Jeffersonian classicism to proportion the building and its dome.
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 80001186, listed September 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1605 3rd Ave., Columbus |
|---|---|
| County | Muscogee County |
| Listed | September 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001186 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Firth Lockwood, architect; H.A. Granger, builder |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival; one story Greek cross plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The sanctuary is described as vacant; the two-story addition is rented to a day care. Condition is described as fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | High Uptown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.47637, -84.98938 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 80001186.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134427533
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.