First Universalist Church
Also known as: Inspirational Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 at 2600 Essex Place in Cincinnati's Walnut Hills, this church was designed by Samuel Hannaford & Sons for the First Universalist congregation. The low building sits on a hillside and has an L-shaped plan, with a large gable at each end of the L. An octagonal tower about 30 feet high fills the angle between the two wings. The east facade has a Palladian-type window above three rectangular windows, and the north facade has an arched Gothic-style window, the only significant Gothic motif on the church. Walls are rock-faced limestone ashlar under a slate gable roof. The Universalist congregation was founded in Cincinnati in 1827 by Eliphalet Case, met on Walnut Street, then moved to Plum Street in 1859 before building here under building committee chairman Richard Wooley. The building is considered a good example of Romanesque architecture and is included among Hannaford's works. It remains in church use.
Significance in brief: It is nominated as part of the Thematic Resources of Samuel Hannaford, covering works by the Cincinnati architect and his firm. The form calls it a good example of Romanesque architecture. It also notes the congregation's history, which began in Cincinnati in 1827.
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 80003055, listed March 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2600 Essex Pl., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | March 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003055 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Hannaford & Sons (architect); builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Romanesque influences |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; exterior and interior condition listed as good. The octagonal tower cap has been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.12707, -84.49522 (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 80003055.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5454029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.