Union Church
Why it's listed
Union Church is a small white clapboard country church built in 1876 on a rise along Kirby Road southeast of Oreana, Illinois. Local settlers built it with donated materials and volunteer labor, and it was meant to be open to all. The foundation and chimney use bricks molded from red clay by nearby residents. Inside are twenty-six movable walnut and oak pews, a raised podium, a pump organ given in 1879, a wood stove, plank floors and plaster walls beneath a high ceiling. The building has no electricity or water and has never been renovated. Over the years it hosted worship, civic meetings, elections, concerts, temperance gatherings and funerals, and it still serves for weddings and Memorial Day. Its simple rectangular plan, with Italianate windows and entry transom and Greek Revival interior woodwork, makes it a good example of an 1870s rural church. It is the only church in the area to keep its original character, and its cemetery adds to its setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a good vernacular example of an 1870s rural church, with simple rectangular massing and some Italianate and Greek Revival features. It is described as the only church in Whitmore Township and the surrounding area that retains its historic integrity, with original furnishings and no modernization. The cemetery is included for its association with the church.
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 99000588, listed September 23, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2.5 mi. SE of Oreana, on Kirby Rd., Oreana |
|---|---|
| County | Macon County |
| Listed | September 23, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000588 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century; vernacular with some Greek Revival and Italianate features |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sound and in original condition but in need of some restoration; still used for weddings, Memorial Day observances and as a polling place, with an active burial ground. It has no electricity or water. |
| Acreage | 3.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.92019, -88.84799 (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 99000588.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7885517
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.