Methodist Episcopal Church of Painesville, The
Also known as: Painesville United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Facing the central square in downtown Painesville, this red brick church was designed by Akron architect Jacob Snyder. Its cornerstone was laid in 1873, the Sunday School section was dedicated in 1875, and the sanctuary was finished in 1881. The building rests on a sandstone foundation and measures about 161 by 80 feet. Its front is dominated by a large Gothic-arched stained glass window, flanked by two corner towers of unequal height with pinnacles, louvered belfries and stone detailing. Inside, fourteen classrooms rise on two levels in a semicircle around a central room behind the sanctuary, a layout known as the Akron Plan. That arrangement let a superintendent see every class from one platform. The church is considered an early example of the plan and the earliest known surviving one. Later changes include balconies added in 1923-24, an education building from the 1950s, a slate roof replaced with asphalt shingles in 1982, and a new pipe organ in 1992-93.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a fine, high-style example of Gothic Revival architecture in Lake County. It is also an early and significant example of an Akron Plan church, with Sunday School rooms arranged in a semicircle around a central room. It is described as the earliest known surviving example of the plan, since the first Akron church no longer survives.
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 98000043, listed January 30, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 71 N. Park Place, Painesville |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | January 30, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000043 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873-1924 |
| Architect / builder | Snyder, Jacob; architect. Lewis, Ira J.; builder |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the former Sunday School rooms are no longer used for Sunday School classes but are retained with a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.72541, -81.24437 (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 98000043.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6823812
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.