Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church
Also known as: Lower Stone Church
Why it's listed
Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church, known locally as Lower Stone, is a plain two-story church of uncoursed stone with a gable roof, set in the countryside near Rockwell in Rowan County. A German rhymed inscription over the south entrance gives the date 1795 and names it Grace Church. Other records suggest the building was complete by 1798 and was not dedicated until 1811. German settlers from Pennsylvania founded the congregation in the mid-eighteenth century. Land was bought in 1774 for the Reformed congregation, and an 1795 deed placed the property in the care of two elders as the stone building went up. It is the oldest Reformed church in the county and the parent of five others nearby. A bell tower added in 1901 changed the main front from south to west, and the interior was rebuilt about 1880. The churchyard holds gravestones with German inscriptions, some from the eighteenth century. The church remains in religious use.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest Reformed church in Rowan County and the parent church of five others in the area. It was built by German settlers who came down from Pennsylvania in the mid-eighteenth century. The nomination notes its plain, practical design, which reflects the pioneer character of its builders.
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 72000990, listed January 20, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Rockwell on SR 1221, Rockwell |
|---|---|
| County | Rowan County |
| Listed | January 20, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000990 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, occupied, in religious use, and altered; the original interiors were removed about 1880 and a bell tower was added in 1901. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 35.52092, -80.42128 (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 72000990.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5591166
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.