First United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Standing at the end of Court Street in Elyria, this two-story Gothic Revival church was completed in 1925 to designs by the Cleveland firm of Thayer and Johnson. Its walls are brick faced with sandstone, and the slate gable roof, stained glass windows and abundant stone carving give the exterior a strong presence as a focal point. Inside, the sanctuary is richly furnished, and its wide open space comes from steel construction hidden behind ornament. The building replaced an earlier Gothic church on the same site, designed by E. E. Myers and built in 1881. A Sunday school building from 1908, laid out on the Akron plan, adjoins the rear, though it has been affected by recent modernization. Additions made in 1967-69 by Walter Damon echo the Gothic style without detracting from the original. The church has long been a leading congregation in the community and remains in use, with both interior and exterior in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as a highly elaborate and singular structure that adds greatly to the visual fabric of the city. Its stained glass, stone carvings and position at the end of Court Street make it a focal point. It also houses one of the community's largest and leading congregations.
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 79002730, listed August 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 312 3rd St., Elyria |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | August 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002730 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thayer and Johnson, Cleveland (architects) |
| Architectural style | 20th Century Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; interior and exterior condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Elyria Downtown-West Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.36508, -82.10773 (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 79002730.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453983
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.