By Kaitlyn Eichelberger
Over a century old and near identical to its original structure, the United Methodist Church of Terra Alta (Terra Alta FUMC) has been granted placement on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing the church’s architectural significance.
The congregation is celebrating today with service at 11 a.m., followed by a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. to unveil the new plaque commemorating this designation. A pot-luck luncheon will then be held.
“It’s open to everyone who wants to come,” said Roger Lewis, chair of the Trustees. “Everybody’s really excited and I think we’ll have a great turnout. We’ll be there to worship God and have a good time.”
A couple of years ago, the Terra Alta FUMC decided to apply for the National Register of Historic Places.
“I just felt that it was a building very deserving of national recognition,” said Lewis. “It’s a beautiful church, it needs to be preserved.”
To qualify for the National Register of Historic Places, a property must be associated with a significant event or person, represent a distinct style of architecture or a master architect’s work, or provide important historical information. The Terra Alta FUMC meets these guidelines due to its features designed by John Charles Fulton, a nationally respected architect.
Built between 1900-04 and officially dedicated on June 26, 1904, the Terra Alta FUMC has served its community for over a century –118 years.
The church is the only representation of Fulton’s work in Preston County. Fulton designed many other buildings across West Virginia, some of which are still standing today and also hold positions on the National Register of Historic Places. These include WVU’s Purinton House, Barbour County Courthouse, and Doddridge County Courthouse.
A 1956-57 addition was designed by Albert Franklin Tucker, a similarly prominent architect. The Terra Alta FUMC is Tucker’s only known work in Preston County and demonstrates his modern style. This expansion, called the “education building,” allowed for more community events, classes, charitable services and more.
The building reflects the Romanesque Revival architectural style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As one of the few buildings in Preston County fitting this style, the Terra Alta FUMC is the area’s best example of this type of architecture.
“You can just tell how special this building is when you enter the sanctuary,” said Jennifer Thornton, a teaching assistant professor in WVU’s History Department. “It has a corner pulpit, curved pews and this lovely, vaulted ceiling crowned with a stained-glass dome.”
The State Historic Office connected the Terra Alta FUMC with Thornton for support through the application process. The National Register application research was assigned to Thornton’s Historic Preservation students, who enjoyed the opportunity to tour the church and speak with congregation members.
After 2 ½ years of preparation, the Terra Alta FUMC was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 15.
Now that the church has received this status, it is eligible for a variety of grants to be used for building upkeep.
“To maintain a building that size, periodically, there are major expenses,” said Lewis. “We’ve been able to handle those expenses to date, but if we can apply for grants in the future, that will be a great benefit.”
The church’s stained glass windows are undergoing full restoration.
The Terra Alta FUMC has been well-maintained, which is rare for a building so old, said Thornton.
“Changes to the historic fabric have been limited, and the property retains its integrity of materials, workmanship, feeling and association,” describes the National Register form.
Preserving historical buildings like the church is crucial, said Thornton.
“For me, the most important reason to preserve historical buildings like the First United Methodist Church of Terra Alta is because they are cherished by their communities,” Thornton said. “Buildings like this hold so many local stories and memories and are woven into the fabric of community and family histories.”
The church was built by the community, for the community and maintains the same values a century later.
“The church bell, cast in 1886, is still in use today,” states the National Register form. “The same chimes that ring through Terra Alta every Sunday would have rung as the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad brought travelers, laborers and industrial products through the town over a century ago.”
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