Memorial Reformed Church
Also known as: Memorial United Church of Christ
Why it's listed
Memorial Reformed Church, now Memorial United Church of Christ, is a brick sanctuary on East Main Street in Maiden, Catawba County. Built in 1887 and attributed to Salathiel Bolick, it combines Classical Revival features, such as a pedimented facade, pilasters and keystoned segmental-arched windows, with Gothic-inspired pointed brick hood molds over the side windows. A two-stage bell tower was added in 1914, and a one-story Sunday School annex followed in 1936-1937. The large twenty-four-over-twenty-four-light windows resemble those of textile mills. The church was named in memory of Perry Carpenter, son of mill founder Henry Carpenter, whose family paid for most of the construction. As the first church in Maiden, it grew alongside the mill town, reaching 112 members by 1890. It is valued locally for its unusual vernacular design and its close link to the founding and growth of Maiden.
Significance in brief: The church is argued to be architecturally significant as an unusual vernacular blend of Classical Revival and Gothic Revival traits, unique among surviving late nineteenth century churches in Catawba County. It is also significant for exploration/settlement as the first church in Maiden, closely tied to the town's early development around the Carpenter family cotton mill.
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 90000865, listed June 21, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 E. Main St., Maiden |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | June 21, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000865 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887 |
| Architect / builder | Bolick, Salathiel |
| Architectural style | Gothic; Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious structure (Memorial United Church of Christ); belfry openings have been infilled with louvered plywood. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 35.57502, -81.20993 (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 90000865.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6815501
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.