First Congregational-Unitarian Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at 2901 Reading Road in Cincinnati, this small church is built of random ashlar stone on a high, coursed stone foundation. Architect James C. McLaughlin gave it a steep roof, stone-trimmed gables that rise above the ridge, and round-arched windows and doors framed by stone voussoirs. Two bisecting wings create a modular plan. A large rose window on the north end, showing the figure of Truth, is signed by Tiffany and was designed by Frederick Wilson, a Tiffany craftsman. The unaltered sanctuary holds wood carvings by local sculptors Henry Fry and Frederick F. Eckstein. The congregation dates to 1830, making Cincinnati one of the earliest places in the country with a First Congregational Unitarian church. Earlier churches stood at Fourth and Race Streets and at Plum and Eighth Streets. As population moved to the suburbs, funds were set aside in 1888 for this building, which is the congregation's oldest surviving church in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the congregation's oldest surviving building in the city and as an adept interpretation of the Richardsonian style. It also reflects Cincinnati's role as one of the earliest U.S. locations for a First Congregational Unitarian church, organized in 1830.
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 76001434, listed May 28, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2901 Reading Rd., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | May 28, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001434 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | James C. Mc Laughlin |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in excellent condition, still used as a church; the building is marked altered, though the interior sanctuary is described as unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.13190, -84.49805 (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 76001434.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2493247
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.