St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Also known as: St. Thomas Guild Hall; St. Thomas Rectory
Why it's listed
Located at the corner of Second and Jefferson streets in Port Clinton, one block from downtown and two blocks from Lake Erie, this Episcopal church was completed in 1896 in the Tudor-Gothic Revival style. It is built of red brick on a rusticated stone foundation, with an open belltower, lancet-arched stained glass windows and an open-timbered nave. Edward Bertsch, a parish member and local builder, constructed it from designs by the Cleveland firm Coburn, Barnum, Benes & Hubbell. A guild hall and rectory were added to the east end in 1919 under the rector, and the three parts are counted as one building. The rectory later became church offices and classrooms, and the hall still hosts social, religious and athletic events. The property was listed for its architecture: it is the only Episcopal church in Ottawa County with Tudor-Gothic design characteristics, and it is a well-preserved example of the Cleveland firm's work outside its home area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an excellent and unusual local example of English Tudor-Gothic architecture, the only Episcopal church in Ottawa County to show that style's design traits. It is also a highly intact work of the Cleveland firm Coburn, Barnum, Benes & Hubbell, built when all four partners were together. The 1919 additions fall within the period of significance.
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 99000845, listed July 15, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 214 E. Second St., Port Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | July 15, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000845 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896 - 1919 |
| Architect / builder | Coburn, Barnum, Benes & Hubbell, Architects; Bertsch, Edward (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Gothic Revival (Tudor-Gothic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for religious purposes; the guild hall serves social and religious events, and the former rectory now holds church offices, classrooms and a lounge. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.51148, -82.93887 (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 99000845.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591955
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.