Trinity United Methodist Church
Also known as: 60-383
Why it's listed
Trinity United Methodist Church is a small brick church in the village of Ellett, in the North Fork valley of the Roanoke River. Built between 1908 and 1910 and dedicated in 1913, it follows a four-bay nave plan and has a two-stage corner tower with a vestibule and an open belfry under a conical cap. The congregation dates to 1856, and the present building reused bricks from an earlier brick church that was torn down because repairs were judged too costly. Its windows came from an old church at Fort Lewis. Inside, the church keeps a pressed metal ceiling, beaded wainscot, stained glass and a cast-iron chandelier made to hold twelve kerosene lamps. The nomination points out that other rural churches in the area are mostly plain frame buildings, so this one stands out for its tower and interior. A 1961 Sunday school wing and a relocated entrance did not harm its character. It was listed for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a good example of a regionally popular nave-plan church form, with unusual decorative features including a fine interior and an ornamental corner tower containing a vestibule. No other rural church in the area has a similar tower or comparable decoration, since most are simple frame nave-plan buildings. It has been well preserved, and the 1961 Sunday school wing respects the original form.
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 89001894, 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 723, 0.1 mi. S of VA 603, Ellett |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001894 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1910 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: nave plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use; a Sunday school wing was added in 1961 and the original entrance was closed and replaced by a new one on the north side of the tower. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.18875, -80.36873 (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 89001894.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713386
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.