First Presbyterian Church (Troy, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Presbyterian Church
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Western side and front
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Franklin and Walnut Sts., Troy, Ohio |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1859 |
| Architect | George Browning Reed |
| Architectural style | Romanque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001493 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
First Presbyterian Church is a really old and important church building in Troy, Ohio, United States. It's a Presbyterian church. This building was finished in the 1860s. It was actually the third building used by this church group. They started meeting almost fifty years before this church was built! It's a great example of Romanesque Revival architecture, which was a popular style back then. Because it's so special, it's now a historic site.
The Church's Story
The first people settled in the area around Troy in 1804. The city of Troy itself was planned out in 1807. The first church group in the area started in 1807. However, the first church in Troy was a Methodist group, formed in 1815.
Presbyterian church services began in Troy in 1818. A missionary named George Burgess led these early services. Most meetings took place in the local schoolhouse. Sometimes, they met in the courthouse.
From 1826 to 1837, the church used a simple building for worship. In 1837, the church group split into two. This happened because of a big disagreement within the Presbyterian church across the country. Instead of fighting over the building, they sold it and shared the money.
One of the groups built a wooden church in 1839. Then, in 1859, they started building the church you see today. The main worship area was ready by late 1860. But it took four more years to finish the whole building. Around 1863 or 1864, the two church groups decided to join together again. This happened even though the larger Presbyterian church in the country was still divided. They finally reunited in 1870.
Building's Design
The First Presbyterian Church is made mostly of brick. It also has parts made of stone. The building sits on a strong stone foundation. George R. Browning built this church.
The church is built in the Romanesque Revival style. This style was popular in the mid-1800s. It often uses round arches and strong, solid shapes. This building is one of the best examples of architecture from before the Civil War in Troy.
The main worship area inside is large and simple. This design was common for traditional Presbyterian churches. The building has a rectangular shape. A tall tower with a flat roof stands at the front. The tower has an arched doorway at its base. The top of the tower has decorative battlements, like a castle.
The tower also has large arched windows on two levels. There is a round window, called an oculus, between the window levels on each side. Even taller arched windows are on the front of the building, one on each side of the tower. There are also six of these tall windows on each side of the building. The ends of the building rise to gables, which are the triangular parts of the wall under the roof. On the front, a pediment (a triangular shape) behind the tower highlights the gable.
A Historic Landmark
In 1976, the First Presbyterian Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historic place. It earned this honor for two main reasons. First, its architecture is very important and well-preserved. Second, it played a big role in the local history of Troy.
This church is one of fifteen places in Troy that are on the National Register. It is also one of forty-four such places in Miami County. The church group is still active today. It is part of the Miami Valley Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
