First Congregational Church
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Sixth and Plum Streets, one block north of the Clark County Courthouse, this Marshall, Illinois church is built of gray limestone laid in alternating smooth and rusticated courses. Its asymmetrical plan includes a square bell tower, a smaller pyramidal-roofed tower, a double-arched entrance loggia, a large rose window and many stained glass windows. Inside, dark oak pews, trim and reredos fill the sanctuary, and the original bell, cast in 1850, still hangs in the tower. The Gray Construction Company of St. Louis built it in 1908 for $17,985, covering only the shell, and the congregation raised the remaining funds through grants, loans and community meals and bazaars. It was dedicated in 1909 on the site of two earlier churches. It is recognized for its architecture as the first Richardsonian Romanesque building in Marshall and a good local example of the style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a good local example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and was the first building in Marshall designed in that style. It also meets the criteria consideration for religious properties with architectural significance. It is the congregation's third church on the same site.
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 02001753, listed February 5, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 202 N 6th St., Marshall |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Listed | February 5, 2003 |
| Reference number | 02001753 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908 |
| Architect / builder | Gray Construction Company, St. Louis, Missouri |
| Architectural style | Romanesque/Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use as a church; roof re-covered with asphalt shingles in 2001 and finials being replaced with copper crosses. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.39352, -87.69679 (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 02001753.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452810
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.