West Union Presbyterian Church
Also known as: West Union United Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1810 of random ashlar stone, this church at 108 South Second Street in West Union is one of the oldest church buildings in Ohio and one of the few original structures remaining from the town's early years. Stonemason Thomas Metcalf, called "Old Stonehammer," built it for $250, paid half in cash and half in goods such as cattle, wheat and a hat. Metcalf later became governor of Kentucky, and Thomas Kirker, Ohio's governor in 1807-08, started the effort to build the church, giving it the name "The Church of the Governors." The stone came from a quarry about 500 feet away. Abolitionist preacher John Rankin gave an installation sermon here in April 1830, and soldiers of the 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry were quartered inside during the Civil War. The entrance was moved from the east to the west side before 1890. A frame annex was added in 1940-41, and the open belfry dates from 1912.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the oldest church buildings in Ohio and one of the few original buildings of West Union (founded 1803) still standing. It is known as the "Church of the Governors" because of links to Ohio governor Thomas Kirker and Thomas Metcalf, later governor of Kentucky. It also has ties to abolitionist preacher John Rankin and to Civil War soldiers quartered there.
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 76001359, listed November 18, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 108 S. 2nd St., West Union |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | November 18, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001359 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Metcalf |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a church; the form lists its present use as religious. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.79359, -83.54380 (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 76001359.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7986736
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.