Bethel African American Episcopal Church of Monongahela City
Why it's listed
Built of handmade brick on a corner lot on West Main Street in Monongahela City, the church was begun in 1871 to plans attributed in the nomination to local builder John Blythe. Its sanctuary, pointed-arched stained glass windows, slate roof and tower with a tall wood steeple make it a modest but carefully detailed Gothic Revival building. The congregation, organized in 1833, was the first permanent African American institution in the eastern half of Washington County and had served as the town's main church for its Black community since the 1870s. The building hosted religious services, schooling, social gatherings and community dinners, and it was a place where African American and white residents met. The congregation's members also included many of the area's oldest Black families, and its college-bound young people were prominent in the 1940s through 1970s. The interior was completed in 1894, and the steeple was rebuilt after a lightning strike in 1987.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding example of Gothic Revival design and is associated with builder John Blythe. It also argues the congregation, founded in 1833, was the central social and educational institution for the town's African American community from the nineteenth century into the mid-twentieth century.
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 02001298, listed November 7, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. 7th and Main Sts., Monongahela City |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | November 7, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001298 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1871-1952 |
| Architect / builder | John Blythe (architect/builder) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.20717, -79.93167 (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 02001298.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4897851
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.