East Avenue Tabernacle Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church
Also known as: Great Aunt Stella Center
Why it's listed
Located at the edge of uptown Charlotte, this brick church complex combines a two-story sanctuary built in 1914 with a four-story educational wing added in 1925. Architect James M. McMichael, who designed fifty-two churches in Charlotte and its vicinity, planned both parts. The sanctuary follows a Greek cross plan around a central octagon, topped by a copper dome on a masonry drum, and its front is marked by a monumental porch with Ionic columns and a brick pediment. Limestone trim, stained glass windows and decorative brick panels enliven the walls. The educational wing continues the same detailing, with windows that shrink in height on the upper floors. The East Avenue Tabernacle congregation chose McMichael after reviewing designs from fifteen architects and built the church to match its prominent site. The design is considered a signature work in his development of classical church architecture, and it kept its integrity through only minimal alterations. The building now serves as a community center and houses a charter school.
Significance in brief: The church is argued to be significant under Criterion C for architecture as a signature work of James M. McMichael, Charlotte's leading church architect. It shows the development of his classical style, which he later repeated with variations in other cities. The sanctuary and 1925 addition keep their architectural integrity, having received only minimal alterations.
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 04001523, listed January 20, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 927 Elizabeth St., Charlotte |
|---|---|
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| Listed | January 20, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001523 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914,1925 |
| Architect / builder | McMichael, James Mackson |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th century Revivals (Classical Revival) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a community center (Great Aunt Stella Center); a charter school occupies the first and second floors of the educational wing. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.21949, -80.83425 (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 04001523.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5327765
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.