Pisgah Christian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pisgah Christian Church
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Front and western side of the church
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Pisgah Rd., northwest of Ripley, Ohio |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002945 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1980 |
Pisgah Christian Church is an old church building in the countryside near Ripley, in Brown County, Ohio, United States. It belongs to the Church of Christ faith. Built in the 1850s, this church is now a special historic site. It was built for a group of people who had been meeting for about 25 years.
Contents
History of Pisgah Christian Church
Early Settlers and Church Beginnings
People first settled near Pisgah Ridge around the year 1800. The first Church of Christ in Brown County started in 1810. The group that later became Pisgah Christian Church began meeting in 1824. This was one of five such churches started in the county between 1818 and 1826.
Elder Matthew Garner's Role
A preacher named Elder Matthew Garner was very important to the church. He officially organized Pisgah Christian Church in 1829. He also helped start another Church of Christ in the nearby town of Ripley in the 1840s.
Matthew Garner was born in Rensselaer County, New York. When he was ten, his family moved to what is now Brown County in 1800. He became a Church of Christ preacher in 1812 and was officially recognized in 1818. Soon after, he began starting churches in southwestern Ohio. By the end of his life, he said he had started 22 churches. He also believed his preaching helped more than 6,000 people become Christians.
Architecture of the Church Building
What the Church Looks Like
Pisgah Christian Church is made of brick. Its base is made of limestone, and it has a tin roof. Other parts are made of wood and stone. The main entrance is an arched doorway on the front of the church. This front part is shaped like a house with a pointed roof, called a gable-front.
On the sides of the church, there are four rectangular windows. These windows are on the single main floor. A small bell tower, called a belfry, sits on the roof above the main entrance. A partial triangle shape, known as a pediment, forms the top of the gable. Trees are spread out around the church property.
Building Style and History
The church's design is typical of buildings from that time. This style is called vernacular architecture, which means it's built using local traditions and materials. It also has a small influence from Greek Revival architecture, like the pediment.
Pisgah's first building was made of logs and stood on the same land. The current brick building was built in 1854. Even after more than 150 years, the church has changed very little. No other 19th-century church in Brown County is as well-preserved. Modern things like indoor plumbing and electricity have never been added to Pisgah. The area around the church is still a quiet, rural farming community.
National Register of Historic Places
Why Pisgah Christian Church is Historic
In 1980, Pisgah Christian Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historic site. It qualified because of its special and well-preserved architecture.
Other Historic Sites Nearby
Pisgah Christian Church is one of five places in Union Township that are on the National Register. The others include:
- The Burgett House and Barn on White Road.
- The Henry Martin Farm on U.S. Route 68.
- The Stonehurst (Ripley, Ohio) farmstead, also on U.S. Route 68.
- Red Oak Presbyterian Church on Cemetery Road.
