Mt. Olive Methodist Episcopal Church
Also known as: DHR File No. 053-0994
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 on Gleedsville Road south of Leesburg, this small wood frame church was raised by formerly enslaved people from Oatlands Plantation on land they had bought themselves. The building measures forty-two by twenty-three feet and has a front gable roof, a projecting vestibule, a semi-hexagonal apse and a local fieldstone foundation. Its braced frame was already outdated by 1890, and the gable carries decorative shingles in three patterns, a mix described as rare in Loudoun County. Inside, narrow wood boards cover the walls and ceiling, and many of the pine pews appear original. A marble cornerstone is dated October 12, 1890. The church served as a house of worship, a gathering place for mutual aid societies such as the Odd Fellows, and the center of community life in Gleedsville. As the town declined and disappeared by the mid-twentieth century, the church remained as a reminder of the community. It is still used for religious and community meetings.
Significance in brief: The church was built by ex-slaves from nearby Oatlands Plantation on land they owned, and it served as a place of worship, a meeting place for mutual aid societies and the center of community life in the town of Gleedsville. It is argued to be significant for its association with the cultural and social history of African-Americans in central Loudoun County during a pivotal period. The building survives as a symbol of a community that disappeared by the mid-20th 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 04001542, listed January 20, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 20460 Gleedsville Rd., Leesburg |
|---|---|
| County | Loudoun County |
| Listed | January 20, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001542 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and currently used for both religious and community meetings; limited restoration work has been done on the foundation, windows and apse. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.05301, -77.60272 (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 04001542.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712927
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.