Christ Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Christ Episcopal Church is a one-story frame church in Walnut Cove, Stokes County, built in 1886-1887 and moved about five blocks south to 412 Summit Avenue in 1909. Its board-and-batten siding, steeply pitched front gable, lancet-arched windows and two-stage corner entrance tower display the Carpenter Gothic style. The congregation was organized in the mid-1870s under the influence of the Hairston family and Rev. Harry Olmsted Lacey, and the church was consecrated as the Church of the Holy Comforter on 21 July 1887. It was renamed Christ Church in 1891. The design reflects the plans in Richard Upjohn's Rural Architecture, published in 1852, which made Gothic designs affordable for rural congregations in wood. The interior retains original pine woodwork, nave windows moved from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem in 1929, and handmade pews. The nomination regards it as one of the best-preserved examples of its type in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a well-preserved, nearly unaltered example of the Carpenter Gothic style applied to an ecclesiastical building, typical of the small board-and-batten Episcopal churches built in the second half of the nineteenth century. Its design is linked to Richard Upjohn's Rural Architecture, and it is described as the best-preserved turn-of-the-century frame church remaining in Stokes County.
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 04001586, listed January 28, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 412 Summit Ave., Walnut Cove |
|---|---|
| County | Stokes County |
| Listed | January 28, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001586 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1887 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church is in use with regular services; parish house added 1941-1943. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.29972, -80.13930 (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 04001586.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5108888
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.