First Congregational Church of Cuyahoga Falls
Also known as: Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Why it's listed
Built between 1845 and 1847, this brick church at 130 Broad Boulevard in Cuyahoga Falls began as a Greek Revival building and was later updated to suit post-Civil War taste with Romanesque and Gothic Revival details. The congregation, organized in 1834, planned the building in 1845 on a front modeled on the Episcopal church at Columbus, which had a recessed porch with two columns. A two-story addition in 1869 brought Romanesque windows and a reworked belfry. In 1883 colored glass replaced clear windows and curved pews replaced box pews. A gymnasium followed in 1927 and a larger addition in 1958. The interior still keeps its original Greek eared window casings. The church is credited as the oldest in continuous use in Summit County, excepting only the Western Reserve Academy chapel in Hudson, and it stands as a well-preserved record of nineteenth-century changes in taste.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a well-preserved example of a church reflecting changing architectural taste in the second half of the nineteenth century. It is also credited as the oldest church in continuous use in Summit County, apart from the Western Reserve Academy chapel in Hudson. Its front was modeled on churches designed by Charles Romanoff Prczriminsky.
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 75001538, listed November 3, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 130 Broad Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | November 3, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001538 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th century; specific dates 1845-1847; 1869; 1883 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, later remodeled with Romanesque and Gothic Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition, altered, on its original site; occupied and in religious use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.13348, -81.48426 (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 75001538.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452845
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.