Chapel of the Good Shepherd
Why it's listed
Set among large trees beside a walled cemetery east of Ridgeway, this small brick chapel was built in 1871 for the village's Episcopalians. It is three bays wide and three deep, with a steep gable front, a red-painted wooden entrance tower with a concave pyramidal roof, and lancet openings under heavy brick hoods. Inside, a center-aisle plan, plastered walls and simple Gothic-style wooden furnishings mark the interior. Dr. William J. Hawkins gave the land in 1870 and paid for most of the construction, which cost $2,873.27 and left the congregation free of debt. The chapel grew from the Ridgeway Company's postwar effort to make Ridgeway a thriving city, a plan that never materialized. The congregation was most active from 1875 to 1900 under the Reverend William Pettigrew. It later dwindled, and a small group now maintains the building and holds monthly services.
Significance in brief: The chapel was built during Reconstruction through the efforts and funding of Dr. William J. Hawkins and the Ridgeway Company, which hoped to turn Ridgeway into a new city. The company's plans failed, and the chapel survives as an isolated remnant of them. Its picturesque Gothic Revival design is also noted.
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 77001013, listed September 16, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Ridgeway, Ridgeway |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | September 16, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001013 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and occupied, still used as a church; a small group maintains it and holds services once a month. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 36.43639, -78.22242 (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 77001013.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5073109
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.