Bigelow United Methodist Church
Also known as: Bigelow Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Bigelow United Methodist Church is a brick sanctuary on a corner lot at 415 Washington Street in Portsmouth's Boneyfiddle area. Built in 1858, it has an early Romanesque-influenced design, with a symmetrical front, a central three-story tower topped by a small spire, and recessed segmental arches shaped by decorative brick dentils. Tall arched bays line the north and south sides, and the original slate gable roof survives. Additions made to the rear in 1892 and 1906 match the scale and materials of the original building. The church was rebuilt after fires in 1859 and 1867, and in 1892 the interior was reoriented. It is the second building for Portsmouth's oldest congregation, organized in 1814, and is the oldest surviving Methodist church building in the city. It is one of three 1850s churches left in Portsmouth and was recognized for its architecture, which differs from the city's earlier Greek Revival and Gothic Revival churches and its later Victorian Gothic ones. It remains an important visual landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a significant example of mid-19th century religious architecture in Portsmouth. It is one of three churches remaining from the 1850s and shows an early Romanesque-influenced style that departs from earlier Greek Revival and Gothic Revival churches. It also retains integrity of location, setting and feeling, and is the oldest extant Methodist church building in Portsmouth.
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 87002073, listed December 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 415 Washington St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | December 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002073 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Early Romanesque influence (Early Romanesque Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; interior and exterior condition are listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.73391, -82.99912 (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 87002073.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4906824
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.