Pilgrim Presbyterian Church
Also known as: Pilgrim Chapel
Why it's listed
Pilgrim Chapel, at 1222 Ida Street in Cincinnati's Mount Adams neighborhood, is a rectangular two-story brick church completed in the late 1880s beside the Ida Street Bridge. It has a steeply pitched shingled roof, a central bell gable tower, stone quoins and string courses, and Gothic Revival pointed openings and rose windows. A simple brick manse is attached at the rear. Inside, a timber roof with braces and decorative wallpieces shows straightforward carpentry. The chapel began as a Presbyterian mission and preaching station, promoted by minister Dr. Frank C. Monfort as church members moved to the hilltops. Funds came from committees of First Presbyterian Church and Mount Adams, and the project was noted for drawing support from both Catholics and Protestants. It was the first Protestant church in the area and is the only surviving nineteenth-century Cincinnati church that began as a mission. Local contractor Charles E. Iliff built it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the chapel embodies nineteenth-century Eclectic architecture in Cincinnati and represents the chapel as an early Presbyterian preaching station. It is described as the only surviving nineteenth-century Cincinnati church that began as a mission, and the first Protestant church in the traditionally Catholic Mount Adams neighborhood. It is also credited to the skill of a prominent local builder and craftsmen.
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 80003074, listed July 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1222 Ida St., Cincinnati |
|---|---|
| County | Hamilton County |
| Listed | July 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003074 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Charles E. Iliff |
| Architectural style | Eclectic, with Gothic Revival elements (reviewer also notes Romanesque and Gothic elements) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and altered. The congregation was to dissolve at the end of February 1980, with the property reverting to the Cincinnati Presbytery. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.10999, -84.49883 (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 80003074.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7193948
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.