Groveport United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Groveport United Methodist Church is a one-story brick church at 512 Main Street, opened in 1907 in a residential neighborhood one block west of the town hall. It is the third Methodist church on the site, replacing buildings from 1836 and 1851, and the cornerstone of the second church was saved and reused. Local bricks were made in the village, and Groveport resident Charles Rarey served as builder, assisted by Gottlieb Dorrer on stonework and Thomas Redman on the roof. The exterior combines smooth brick walls, stone trim, buttresses, a multi-gabled slate roof, a corner steeple and stained glass windows with arches of alternating brick and stone. Inside, the church follows the Akron Plan, with a semi-circular auditorium, a corner pulpit, pews on a sloping floor and adjoining Sunday School rooms. It was recognized as a local example of early 20th century religious architecture, and a 1957 rear addition does not detract from its historic appearance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a locally significant early 20th century example of religious architecture under Criterion C. Its interior follows the Akron Plan, which paired preaching space with Sunday School rooms. Its exterior shows turn-of-the-century picturesque eclecticism, mixing Romanesque, Queen Anne and Gothic elements.
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 95000494, listed April 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 512 Main St., Groveport |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000494 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Charles D. Rarey |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-Early 20th Century Revivals / Late Gothic Revival (described in the text as High Victorian Gothic Revival with Romanesque and Queen Anne elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for religious purposes; a one-story classroom addition was built at the rear in 1957, and the chancel was remodelled in 1978. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.85204, -82.88561 (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 95000494.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716429
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.