St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Also known as: Wadsworth Congregational Church; Old Mennonite Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1842 on College Street in Wadsworth, Ohio, this wood-frame church is a temple-front example of Greek Revival design. George Hinsdale designed it to replace the city's original church, which was 22 years old. The building is roughly 40 by 72 feet, with a porch gable carried on Roman Doric columns made of laminated boards, a carved swag and sunburst gable ornament, and an eight-sided belfry. Its Congregational congregation used it for 42 years before abandoning it in 1885. A Mennonite congregation bought it in 1892 and used it until 1960, changing the interior to suit plainer tastes. An Episcopal parish now owns it and has added altar furnishings. The original sandstone foundation has been replaced with concrete block. Much of the original tree planting remains, so the building can still be seen with much of its early setting. It is valued as an outstanding Ohio example of temple-front Greek Revival architecture and for its long presence in Wadsworth.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the church an Ohio high point of the Greek Revival period and an outstanding example of the temple-front mode as built in Ohio. It reflects the care of a talented carpenter-architect and a congregation willing to pay for high-quality design. Much of the original tree planting survives, preserving the setting.
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 73001506, listed February 6, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 146 College St., Wadsworth |
|---|---|
| County | Medina County |
| Listed | February 6, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001506 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1842) |
| Architect / builder | George Hinsdale |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (temple front) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site, occupied and in religious use by an Episcopal parish. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Wadsworth Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.02579, -81.73137 (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 73001506.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7589952
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.