St. John's Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
St. John's Episcopal Church stands at 700 High Street in Worthington, Ohio, beside the Village Green. Built between 1827 and 1831 by John Snow, who served as both architect and builder, it is a modified Gothic Revival church of hand-made brick laid in Flemish bond, set on a fieldstone foundation with stepped slate gables. Tall pointed-arch windows with wooden mullions pierce the symmetrical walls, and four wooden columns support the interior roof. A square tower rises on the west side. The tower was replaced by a spire in the late nineteenth century and restored in 1930, and the chancel was enlarged in 1916-18. The church matters for its largely intact early design and for its congregation, organized in 1804 and generally recognized as the first Episcopal congregation west of the Alleghenies. It is one of Ohio's two earliest Episcopal buildings and was central to the founding of Worthington by Connecticut Episcopalians. It remains an active church.
Significance in brief: The church is a fine example of Gothic Revival design with a largely intact early 19th century form. Its congregation, established in 1804, is generally recognized as the first Episcopal congregation west of the Alleghenies, and the building is one of the two earliest Episcopal buildings in Ohio. It was also central to the founding of Worthington as a frontier haven for Connecticut Episcopalians.
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 80003019, listed April 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 700 High St., Worthington |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003019 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1827-1831 |
| Architect / builder | John Snow (architect and builder) |
| Architectural style | Modified Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; interior and exterior condition listed as good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Worthington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.08857, -83.01716 (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 80003019.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28126163
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.