Evangelical Church of Christ
Also known as: German United Evangelical Church
Why it's listed
This brick and stone church at 701 Fifth Street in Portsmouth was built in 1886-87 for a German Evangelical congregation, at a cost of $23,000, and dedicated in 1887. Capt. Alger of Portsmouth designed it and oversaw construction. Its slim corner spire rises 151 feet and keeps its slate roof. Pointed-arch windows, brick buttresses with stone caps, walls about two feet thick, and a central entry with paired Corinthian columns mark the Gothic Revival style. Inside, cherry-finished trusses support an arched ceiling. The congregation formed in 1852 when two groups of German settlers united, and it built a Greek Revival church in 1853 across Fifth Street. That building later served as a Sunday School until 1915. A modern Sunday School wing was added in 1963. The building is regarded as an intact example of late 19th-century Gothic Revival design, and its tower is a landmark in the Boneyfiddle area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an architecturally intact, excellent example of late 19th-century Gothic Revival design. Its 151-foot corner spire is a dominant visual landmark in the Boneyfiddle area, which has several significant 19th-century churches. The well-maintained interior and a later east addition do not harm its integrity.
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 87002077, listed December 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 701 Fifth St., Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| County | Scioto County |
| Listed | December 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87002077 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Capt. Alger of Portsmouth (architect and builder) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (German Gothic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the inventory lists condition as good inside and excellent outside. A Sunday School addition was built in 1963. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.73437, -82.99833 (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 87002077.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5415657
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.