St. James Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Built of smooth-dressed sandstone, St. James' Episcopal Church stands at 155 North Sixth Street in Zanesville, about two blocks north of the central business district. Construction began with a cornerstone laid on June 24, 1843, and finished in 1853 at a cost of roughly $20,000. The three-bay facade is dominated by a massive square bell tower with lancet openings, multifoil details and battlemented corners. Lancet windows of stained glass line the sides. Later changes include stained glass installed after the 1913 flood, a new front retaining wall and stairs, repairs after a 1940 lightning fire, and a brick rear addition. The parish, organized in 1816, is the oldest Episcopal congregation in southeastern Ohio, and the building is the second oldest church still standing in Muskingum County. It is regarded as an outstanding Gothic Revival church and has served prominent local families and hosted notable events in Ohio Episcopal history.
Significance in brief: The parish, organized in 1816, is the oldest Episcopal congregation in southeastern Ohio, and the church is the second oldest church building still standing in Muskingum County. It is described as an outstanding example of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture in the midwest. It was also the religious home of prominent Zanesville citizens and the site of several milestones in regional Episcopal history.
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 78002167, listed October 2, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 155 N. 6th St., Zanesville |
|---|---|
| County | Muskingum County |
| Listed | October 2, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002167 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1843-1853 |
| Architect / builder | W.A. Adams |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use; the form lists the condition as altered, with a brick addition at the rear and repairs after the 1913 flood and a 1940 lightning fire. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Muskingum River Navigation Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.94311, -82.00532 (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 78002167.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588492
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.