Graysontown Methodist Church
Also known as: 60-109
Why it's listed
Graysontown Methodist Church occupies a hilltop lot on a ridge in a bend of the Little River, with a view across the water to Snowville. Built in 1895, the frame, weatherboarded building follows a nave plan and has a projecting vestibule with a transomed double door. Above it rises a two-stage tower with bracketed friezes, walls of alternating straight and offset wood shingles, and a pyramidal roof with kicked eaves. A cornerstone dated July 4, 1895, marks the northwest corner, and the interior retains late nineteenth-century detailing. A minister known as Brother Cook and church members built it largely from donated materials. Montgomery County has fourteen late nineteenth-century nave-plan churches, and few have a tower. This one is considered an elaborate example of the type and echoes the tower of Snowville Christian Church. The Methodist Conference closed it in 1976, after which members bought it for nondenominational use. A rear addition does not impair its significant features.
Significance in brief: The church is significant under criterion C as an important, elaborate example of a nave-plan church. Montgomery County has fourteen late nineteenth-century nave-plan churches, and this is one of only a few with a tower. Its tower reflects that of the earlier Greek Revival Snowville Christian Church across the river.
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 89001889, listed November 13, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 613, Graysontown |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001889 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Brother Cook, builder |
| Architectural style | Nave plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed by the Methodist Conference in 1976; members bought the building and now use it as a nondenominational or inter-denominational church. A modern two-story addition sits at the rear. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.03709, -80.56092 (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 89001889.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712387
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.