Westervelt Christian Church
Why it's listed
This two-story red brick church at 103 West Main Street in Westervelt, a small community in Shelby County, Illinois, was built in 1921 to a Classical Revival design by local architect Charles Harris. Its east front is dominated by a pedimented portico with two-story Doric columns and brick pilasters, and similar pedimented bays appear on the north and south sides. Inside, a two-story auditorium has a curved pulpit wall, balconies, a coffered ceiling and a large stained glass window. Harris, a University of Illinois graduate who designed many central Illinois churches, used rounded walls, placed supports and exposed ceiling beams to improve acoustics. The congregation had first met in the IOOF Lodge Building, and the church was dedicated in 1923. It also served as a civic center for lectures and graduations. It was listed for its architecture as a good local example of Classical Revival style, distinguished from Harris's other work in town by its temple front. The building remains in religious use with few alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a good local example of Classical Revival architecture, reflecting the major features of the style as used from the 1890s to the 1920s. It stands out in Westervelt for its dominant temple-front portico. It also meets the religious property consideration because its importance comes from architectural distinction.
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 06000009, listed February 9, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 103 W. Main St., Westervelt |
|---|---|
| County | Shelby County |
| Listed | February 9, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000009 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921 |
| Architect / builder | Harris, Charles |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility; the form reports excellent integrity with no major exterior alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.48134, -88.85977 (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 06000009.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7988587
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.