First United Methodist Church (London, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First United Methodist Church
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Front of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 52 N. Main St., London, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | Crapsey & Brown; A.A. Fletcher, & Co. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival and Jacobean Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000930 |
| Added to NRHP | August 22, 1996 |
The First United Methodist Church is an old and important church in London, Ohio, United States. It belongs to the United Methodist Church. This church was started when London was a very new town. Today, people still worship in its beautiful building, which was built in the 1890s.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
The First United Methodist Church began a long time ago, around 1813 or 1814. This was very soon after the town of London was first planned. In the early days, the church members met in each other's homes. Preaching was not very common because London's church was part of a large "circuit." This circuit included twenty-four different Methodist preaching spots.
In 1820, the church built its first building. It was a log cabin church located on a corner in downtown London. This was the very first church building in the town.
New Buildings Over Time
After about twenty years, the church needed a bigger space. They bought new land a few blocks away. On this new land, they built a larger church made of wood. It was about 60 feet on each side. They also built a brick house for the pastor, called a parsonage.
The 1860s brought many changes for the church. In 1860, the pastor's job became less spread out. He mostly served only the London church. The same year, a new brick church building was finished. It was built on the same spot as the old wooden church. This new building was 90 feet long and 40 feet wide. It cost $7,500 to build.
More buildings were added in the next few years. A new parsonage was finished in 1863. In 1866, a small chapel was added to the back of the church. This was a gift from one of the church members.
One important past member of the church was Jeriah Swetland. He was a well-known local businessman and served as a state representative in Ohio.
The Church Building Today
Why a New Church Was Built
The church kept growing, and soon they needed an even bigger building. In the early 1890s, the third church building was sold. The church bought a house at 52 North Main Street. They moved this house to an empty lot nearby and made it into the new parsonage.
With the house's original spot now empty, a much larger church was built there. This is the church building you see today.
Design and Cost
The current church building was finished and dedicated on November 18, 1894. It cost $45,000 to build. This church is still used for worship today.
The building was designed by an architecture company called Crapsey and Brown. It combines two old styles of architecture: Gothic Revival and Jacobean Revival. The church has walls made of brick and sandstone, which sit on a strong sandstone foundation. The roof is made of asphalt. The building also has nice details made of wood and glass.
Recognition and Current Status
A Historic Landmark
In 1996, the First United Methodist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historic building because of its well-preserved architecture.
The Church Today
Today, the First United Methodist Church is part of the Capitol Area South District. This district is part of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. As of 2019, Pastor David Leckrone and Associate Pastor Seth Evans serve the church.
