St. Paul's Reformed Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1903-1904 in Startown, near Newton in Catawba County, North Carolina, this small weatherboarded church is a vernacular version of the Gothic Revival style. Its asymmetrical plan combines a central rectangular block, an offset front wing, a shallow rear apse and a recessed corner entrance and bell tower topped by a bell-cast pyramidal roof. Lancet windows edged with colored glass, glass roundels in the gables and patterned metal roof shingles provide the main detailing. Inside, original wood pews face a Gothic pulpit, and large paneled doors on a pulley system separate the sanctuary from a classroom. The congregation, descended from German Lutheran and Reformed settlers of 1759, moved here from a rural site because Startown was more central. The church was listed as the county's most architecturally significant rural frame church of its era. The congregation moved to a new brick complex in 1975, and the old building has been kept in excellent condition with almost no exterior change.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the most architecturally significant rural frame church of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in Catawba County, meeting Criterion C in Architecture. It also meets Criteria Consideration A because its primary significance is architectural. It represents the religious heritage of German settlers and the congregation's move from a rural site to Startown.
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 90000860, listed June 21, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of SR 1151 and SR 1005, Startown |
|---|---|
| County | Catawba County |
| Listed | June 21, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000860 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903-04 |
| Architectural style | Gothic (Gothic Revival translated into the vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | No longer in active use as a church after the congregation moved to a new building in 1975, but maintained in excellent condition. Exterior unchanged and interior little altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.64794, -81.26779 (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 90000860.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591188
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.