St. James Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
St. James Episcopal Church is a small wood-frame church, about 60 by 40 feet, in Boardman, Ohio. Construction began in 1827, and it was consecrated in August 1828 by Bishop Philander Chase. Land and money came from Elijah Boardman, a U.S. Senator and member of the Connecticut Land Company, and his son Henry Mason Boardman oversaw the work. A congregation had been meeting in the township since 1807. In 1881 a $3,000 remodeling added cruciform wings, Victorian fretwork, stained glass windows and an open belfry with a slate-roofed steeple. A memorial window to Elijah and Mary Ann Boardman was brought from New Milford, Connecticut. When a shopping mall threatened the building in 1972, residents and local groups raised over $45,000 to move it to Boardman Township Park, a hillside setting resembling its original surroundings. It is the only remaining historic public building in the township and remains a center of community activity.
Significance in brief: It was among the earliest Episcopal churches in Ohio and was built by the family of Elijah Boardman, an original landholder of the Connecticut Western Reserve. It represents architecture from two 19th-century periods (1828 and the 1881 remodeling). It is the only remaining historic public building in Boardman Township.
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 79001892, listed June 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 375 Boardman-Poland Rd., Boardman |
|---|---|
| County | Mahoning County |
| Listed | June 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001892 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Moved in 1972 to Boardman Township Park; described as excellent condition, occupied, and still a center of community activity. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.02353, -80.64987 (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 79001892.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588471
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.