Wesley Chapel (Hopetown, Ohio) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wesley Chapel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front of the church
Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Off U.S. Route 23 at Hopetown, Ohio
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1834
Architectural style	Gothic, High Victorian Gothic
NRHP reference No.	79001936
Added to NRHP	February 2, 1979

This drawing shows the church before its tall bell tower was taken down in the late 1950s. The tower was removed after it was damaged by a lightning strike.

This painting of Wesley Chapel also shows the church with its tall bell tower. The tower was removed in the late 1950s after being hit by lightning.

Wesley Chapel, also known as the "Hopetown Church", is a very old church building. It is located in the small community of Hopetown, in Ohio, United States. This church was built for a group of Methodists, which is a type of Christian church.

The first part of the church was built in 1834. This original rectangular building is still the main part of the church today. Over the years, the building has changed. In 1888, a five-sided section was added to the north side of the church. Later, in 1926, the church was hit by lightning. This caused a lot of damage, and parts of the church had to be repaired.

The Church's Design

The Wesley Chapel is made of brick and sits on a strong stone base. One special part of the church is its pyramid-shaped roof, which covers the section added in 1888.

A Missing Tower

The church used to have a tall tower, called a steeple, above its entrance. This tower was the part of the building that was hit by lightning in 1926. Because of the damage, the tower had to be removed. The different parts of the church's design make it a great example of the Gothic Revival style. This style often includes pointed arches and tall windows, like old European cathedrals.

A Center for the Community

From the very beginning, Wesley Chapel was a very important place in Hopetown. The community itself started to form in the late 1700s. The oldest graves in the church's cemetery are from the 1790s, showing how long people have lived there.

Community Gatherings

For many years, the church was where people in Hopetown gathered for social events. People would come together for activities like quilting bees, where they made quilts, and fish fries, where they cooked and ate fish.

Traveling Ministers

For a long time, the church did not have its own full-time minister. Instead, it was served by "circuit-riding ministers." These were ministers who traveled from one church to another, visiting different communities to lead services. Even though the Ohio and Erie Canal brought more money to the area in the 1830s, Hopetown stayed a small community. Wesley Chapel was always at the heart of this small settlement.

A Historic Landmark

In 1979, Wesley Chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important because of their history or architecture. The church was chosen for this list because of its unique design and its important role in the local history of Hopetown.

There are more than forty places in Ross County that are on the National Register. However, Wesley Chapel is the only church building among them. This makes it a truly special and recognized historic site.