Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (Steubenville, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Methodist Episcopal-Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
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Front and northern side
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 300 S. Fourth St., Steubenville, Ohio |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000093 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 2006 |
The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is an old and important church building in Steubenville, Ohio. It was first built for a large Methodist church group in the early 1900s. Later, in 1945, the Greek Orthodox community bought the building. This church is known for its beautiful Neoclassical style, which includes a big dome and a row of tall columns. Because of its history and design, it has been recognized as a historic site.
Contents
Church History
Early Methodist Beginnings
The first Christian preachers came to the area around Steubenville in the late 1700s. One of the earliest was a Baptist preacher named David Jones in 1772. Methodists also arrived in the 1780s. By 1794, Methodist preachers were active in Steubenville. A church group was formed soon after.
In 1803, a famous Methodist leader named Francis Asbury visited Steubenville. He noticed that the place where the Methodists met, the courthouse, was too small for everyone. To solve this, some members started a new church nearby in 1810. A wealthy member, Bezaleel Wells, gave land for a new church building. This church was ready by the end of 1811 at the corner of Fourth and South Streets.
Even though many people got sick in 1813, the church grew quickly. Many new members joined during special revival meetings. The new building was finished by 1814, but it needed to be made bigger by 1821. By 1824, it was the largest church in Steubenville.
Growth and Changes
In the 1830s, the church faced some challenges. Some members left to form a different Methodist group. Also, an illness called scarlet fever caused many young members to die. However, the church slowly became strong again.
In 1845, members living in northern Steubenville formed their own church. Eleven years later, the original building was replaced with an even larger one. This new building was made bigger again in 1871. More new churches were started in 1867 and 1870. By 1910, the church had about 650 members. Because of this large number, the current church building was constructed on the same spot in 1914.
Becoming a Greek Orthodox Church
Before 1945, Greek Orthodox people living in Steubenville did not have their own church building. Some belonged to the Holy Trinity parish, which met in rented rooms in commercial buildings. Others traveled across the Ohio River to Weirton for church services. This was difficult because both the Fort Steuben Bridge and the Market Street Bridge charged tolls back then.
The situation changed in 1945. The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox community bought the former First Methodist building. This gave them a permanent place to worship.
Church Design and Style
The Holy Trinity Church is a mix of different Neoclassical styles. Its walls are made of brick with many sandstone parts. The roof is covered with asphalt, and the building sits on a strong stone foundation.
The main entrance is set back from the front of the building. You reach it by walking up a few steps. A row of four tall Ionic columns stands in front of the entrance, creating a covered porch area. Above these columns is a tall decorative band, and a small triangular shape sits on top of the middle of this band.
On the side of the church facing South Street, there is a large section with a pointed roof. This section has a big arched window in the middle and smaller rectangular windows. The corners of the building and a section extending further along South Street are two stories tall, with a visible basement. Many smaller windows are found on all three levels.
A tall square tower, which once had a small dome on top, is located along the South Street side. A much larger dome covers the main central part of the church building.
Historic Recognition
In 2006, the Holy Trinity Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It earned this honor because of its important and historic architecture. It is one of eight places in Steubenville listed on the National Register. Other listed buildings include the 1900 Carnegie library nearby, the old Steubenville Federal Land Office, and the historic downtown area known as the Steubenville Commercial Historic District.
