Windsor Mills Christ Church Episcopal
Why it's listed
Windsor Mills Christ Church is a small wood-frame church in Ashtabula County, Ohio, built in 1832 and dedicated by Bishop McIlvaine in 1833. Its design began as Greek Revival, with three bays on each side and horizontal clapboard siding, and was later given pointed Gothic arches. A two-stage tower carries a steep pyramidal spire at each corner and one in the center, locally called a crown steeple. The Episcopal Society formed in Windsor in 1816, and its first building, funded largely by Judge Solomon Griswold, was known as Solomon's Temple. The interior was restored in 1961, earning an American Institute of Architects award. It keeps its original balcony, columns and pews, and some lath is left exposed for educational purposes. An addition at the east end houses a museum of Windsor Township objects, photographs and records, run by the Ashtabula County Historical Society. The church was listed mainly for its architecture and its successful reuse as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is primarily significant for its architecture. It is a charming small Greek Revival building later adapted to Gothic Revival taste. It is also a good example of modern adaptive reuse as a museum.
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 75001319, listed May 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Wisell Rd. and U.S. 322, Windsor Mills |
|---|---|
| County | Ashtabula County |
| Listed | May 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001319 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1832-1833 (19th century) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, later modified with Gothic Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and altered, on its original site. Operated as a museum by the Ashtabula County Historical Society. The nomination notes that in 1974 the society seemed unlikely to be able to keep up maintenance. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.53598, -80.96169 (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 75001319.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8024658
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.