First Methodist Episcopal Church of Alliance, Ohio
Also known as: Christ United Methodist Church,Alliance,Ohio
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Why it's listed
Rising on a hill at 470 East Broadway Street in Alliance, Ohio, this church was completed in 1895 as the First Methodist Episcopal Church and is now Christ United Methodist Church. It is roughly square, with a tall tower at one corner and smaller towers at others. A lower level of sandstone blocks supports red brick walls, round-arched windows, patterned brickwork, stepped gables and a revolving illuminated cross. Inside, the sanctuary follows the Akron Plan, with Sunday School rooms radiating from a triangular worship space. The original carved pews, woodwork and stained glass survive. The nomination ranks it as the largest and most ornamented Romanesque Revival church in the area and the last of Alliance's later nineteenth-century downtown churches. Its organ was Opus 1 of the Hillgreen, Lane company, founded in Alliance in 1898. A 1919 brick addition stands to the west, and the chancel was updated in 1939.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the largest, most fully developed and most ornamented Romanesque Revival church in the Alliance area, and a highly intact early example of the "Akron Plan" church layout. It is also the last of the later 19th-century downtown Alliance churches. Its brickwork, woodcarving and stained glass are cited, as is the Hillgreen, Lane pipe organ, Opus 1 of that Alliance firm.
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 85000945, listed May 2, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 470 E. Broadway St., Alliance |
|---|---|
| County | Stark County |
| Listed | May 2, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000945 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Lewis Thomas, architect; Edward L. Miller, Superintendent of Stonework |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival; Akron Plan church |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a church; the interior has had slight modifications, and the chancel was modernized in 1939. A three-story brick addition was built in 1919. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | East Main Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.91943, -81.09934 (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 85000945.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453298
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.