Chesterville Community Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chesterville Community Church
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Front of Chesterville Community Church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sandusky and East Sts., Chesterville, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1851 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| MPS | Chesterville MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002754 |
| Added to NRHP | August 21, 1979 |
The Chesterville Community Church is a special church in Chesterville, Ohio, United States. It is an independent church that follows the Wesleyan tradition. The church started way back in 1833. Today, it is the only church in Chesterville. It holds its services in a beautiful old building from the 1850s. This building is a very important part of the village's history. It is even recognized as a historic site because it shows what the village looked like in the 1800s.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Design
The Chesterville Community Church building is made of brick. It sits on a strong foundation of sandstone. The church has a Greek Revival style. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. It has a metal roof and wooden parts on the outside.
The front of the church and its sides are divided into three sections, called "bays." Each side section and the outer front sections have two windows, one above the other. The middle section of the front has the main entry door. Above this door, you can see a special stone with a date on it. Above the main part of the front is a triangular section called a pediment. A tall tower, known as a belfry, sits on top of the building.
Inside, the church has several beautiful stained glass windows. Some of these windows are very old, from the late 1800s. Sadly, some were damaged by a tornado in June 2022. But don't worry, they were all fixed and restored by June 2023!
A Look Back: Church History
How the Church Began
The very first church in Chesterville was a Primitive Baptist group, started in 1816. Later, in the late 1820s, Methodists began meeting in the area. The first Methodist sermon in Chesterville itself was preached in 1833. A group of Methodists formed soon after. They met in an old schoolhouse.
Their first church building was built in 1837. They used this building until late 1850. The current church building was then built in 1851. It cost a lot of money to build. It took several years for the church to pay off its building costs. But in the end, they had a wonderful building that has served the community for many generations. Behind the church building, there is also a cemetery that started around 1837.
Even though other churches existed in Chesterville a long time ago, the Chesterville Community Church is now the only church left in the village. In 2023, the church changed its name to Chesterville Community Church. It also became an independent church, following the Wesleyan tradition.
Chesterville's Story and the Church
Chesterville was a very busy and successful place in the early 1800s. Many private schools and a large textile factory were built there. But the village started to decline in the late 1840s. This happened because several towns in the area wanted to be the new county seat. When Mount Gilead was chosen instead of Chesterville, the village stopped growing. Government and railroads focused on Mount Gilead.
Because Chesterville was so successful early on and then stopped growing, many old buildings from that time still stand. The Methodist Church and many other Greek Revival buildings were built during Chesterville's busy period. Since the town didn't grow much later, there wasn't a need or enough money to build many new structures. This is why these historic buildings are still here today.
Keeping History Alive: Preservation Efforts
In the 1970s, a group called Chester Community Concerns was formed. Their goal was to help save the historic buildings in Chesterville. In 1978, this group helped record the village's historic buildings. They wanted to get the most important ones listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
In August 1979, nine buildings in Chesterville were added to the National Register. The Chesterville Community Church was one of them! It was chosen because of its beautiful, well-preserved architecture. It was also important because of its role in local history. The church is considered the most important architectural landmark in the village. Its location on State Route 95 also makes it one of the most noticeable buildings in Chesterville. It helps the village still look like a trading center from the 1800s.
