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 the village of Chesterville, Ohio. It's an independent church that follows the Wesleyan tradition.
This church was started in 1833. It is the only church in Chesterville. The congregation meets in a very old building from the 1850s. This building is a major landmark in the village. It is also a historic site because it's an important part of Chesterville's history.
Contents
Discovering the Church's Design
The Chesterville Community Church building is made of brick. It sits on a strong sandstone base. The roof is made of metal, and some parts outside are wood.
The church is built in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. When it was first built, the church was about 70 feet long and 45 feet wide.
The front and sides of the church have three sections, called bays. Each side bay has two windows, one above the other. The front also has windows in its side bays. The middle of the front has the main entrance door. Above the door, there is a stone with a date carved into it.
Above the main front part of the church, there is a triangular section called a pediment. A bell tower, or belfry, sits on top of the building.
Beautiful Stained Glass Windows
Inside the church, you can see several beautiful stained glass windows. Some of these windows are very old, dating back to the late 1800s.
In June 2022, an EF-1 tornado caused some damage to these windows. Luckily, they were all repaired and restored by June 2023.
The Church's Journey Through Time
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 to gather in the area. These early Methodists were led by itinerant preachers, who traveled from place to place.
The first Methodist sermon in Chesterville itself happened in 1833. A minister preached while staying overnight on a trip. Soon after, a Methodist group was formed. They met in an old schoolhouse. Their first minister was named Rev. McDowell.
The earliest church records we have are from July 1836. One year later, in 1837, the first church building was built. It cost $1,200, plus $150 for the land. The congregation used this building until late 1850. They sold it in 1849 but could still use it for another year. Later, that old building became a school.
The current church building was built in 1851. It cost several thousand dollars. It took the congregation a few years to pay off the debt. But in the end, they had a great building that served them for many generations.
Behind the church building, there is a cemetery. This cemetery was started around 1837. Even though other churches existed in Chesterville long 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 had a very successful start in the early 1800s. Many private schools and a big textile factory were built there. However, the town began to decline in the late 1840s.
Several nearby towns wanted to become the new county seat (the main town for the county government). When Mount Gilead was chosen instead of Chesterville, Chesterville stopped growing. Government and railroads focused on Mount Gilead.
This mix of early success and later slowdown explains why the Methodist Church and many other Greek Revival buildings are still in Chesterville. There was a building boom early on. Later, there wasn't enough money or need to build newer structures. This helped preserve the older buildings.
Protecting History: The Church's Preservation
In the 1970s, a group called Chester Community Concerns was formed. They wanted to help protect the historic buildings in Chesterville.
In 1978, this group started a project. They recorded the village's historic buildings for the Ohio Historic Inventory. This was a survey to find important historic places. Their goal was to get the most important buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In August 1979, nine buildings in Chesterville were added to the National Register. This included the Methodist Church. Other buildings were the Chester Township Hall, the Jarvis and Enos Miles Houses, the Old Union School, the Post Office, the A.B. Sears House, the Old Bartlett and Goble Store, and a Wood Commercial Building.
The Methodist Church was chosen for two main reasons. First, its historic architecture was very well-preserved. Second, it played an important role in local history. It was seen as the most important architectural landmark in the village. Its location on State Route 95 also makes it one of the most noticeable buildings. It helps Chesterville still look like a 19th-century trading center.
