Chesterville Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Near the eastern edge of Chesterville, Ohio, this two-story brick church was built in 1851 on a sandstone foundation. It is a Greek Revival building with a gabled roof of seamed metal, a rectangular plan and wood trim. The centered front entrance is a simple opening framed by a small entablature. Small windows on the first floor and tall windows on the second floor reflect the layout, with rooms below and the main auditorium above. A brick entablature runs along the sides and forms a pediment on the front, and a steeple crowns the building. Methodist preaching in Chester Township began with Rev. William Criste, and a first church was erected a year later, in 1834. The present building cost several thousand dollars. It originally had clear windows and a steeple topped with a polished metal ball, later replaced by the current steeple. The interior was redecorated in the 1890s, and the bell was cast in Troy, New York, in 1853. The church remains in use and is in very good condition.
Significance in brief: The inventory describes it as a simple, well-proportioned Greek Revival structure that replaced an 1834 church. It is tied to the early Methodist presence in Chester Township and retains a bell cast in 1853 in Troy, New York. It was recorded as part of a survey of the historic resources of Chesterville.
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 79002754, listed August 21, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Sandusky and East Sts., Chesterville |
|---|---|
| County | Morrow County |
| Listed | August 21, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002754 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; interior and exterior condition both described as very good. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.47959, -82.68151 (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 79002754.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5093882
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.