Saint Mary's Episcopal Church and Parish House
Why it's listed
Saint Mary's Episcopal Church is a rectangular limestone building at 232 North High Street in Hillsboro, Ohio, constructed in 1854-1855. Cincinnati architect J.R. Hamilton designed it, and the local firms of Charles Henning and Shinn Brothers built it. A limestone parish house was added behind it in 1907, enclosing an earlier brick parish house from 1895. Gothic Revival features include buttressed masonry walls, a steeply pitched gable roof, and pointed-arch windows and doors. Inside are a high vaulted ceiling, original oak pews, marble wainscoting, an 1885 organ with 1600 pipes, and stained glass, including a window designed in 1916 by Charles J. Connick. The steeple and roof shingles were replaced in 1970, and a fire in 1967 led to a remodeled parish house interior. The church was listed for its architecture. It is a good local example of Gothic Revival design, and its limestone construction is unusual among Hillsboro's nineteenth-century churches. It remains in use as a house of worship.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church and parish house are an excellent local example of Gothic Revival architecture in Hillsboro. The use of limestone is unusual among the town's nineteenth-century churches. It qualifies under the religious-property exception because its significance comes from architectural and artistic distinction. The complex also grew over time within its historic period.
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 88001421, listed September 8, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 232 N. High St., Hillsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Highland County |
| Listed | September 8, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001421 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854-1855, 1907 |
| Architect / builder | J.R. Hamilton, Architect (Cincinnati); Charles Henning & Shinn Bros. (Hillsboro) (local contractors) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the parish house interior was remodeled after a 1967 fire. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.20448, -83.61051 (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 88001421.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7401831
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.