National Register of Historic Places

Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church

Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Listed
August 18, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82000069

About this property

Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church, whose present-day name is Roberts Park United Methodist Church, was dedicated on August 27, 1876, making it one of the oldest church remaining in downtown Indianapolis. Diedrich A. Bohlen, a German-born architect who immigrated to Indianapolis in the 1850s, designed this early example of Romanesque Revival architecture. The church is considered one of Bohlen's major works. Constructed of Indiana limestone at Delaware and Vermont Streets, it has a rectangular plan and includes a bell tower on the southwest corner. The church is known for its interior woodwork, especially a pair of black-walnut staircases leading to galleries (balconies) surrounding the interior of three sides of its large sanctuary. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1982. It is home to one of several Homeless Jesus statues around the world, this one located behind the church on Alabama Street. The Roberts Park Methodist church originates from the first Methodist congregation organized in Indianapolis in 1822. After the congregation divided into two groups in 1842, one group established Roberts Chapel at Market and Pennsylvania Streets in 1843. Following the American Civil War, the congregation decided to build a new church at its present-day site at Delaware and Vermont Streets. The church is named in honor of Methodist bishop Robert R. Roberts and its park-like location. Construction on the new building began in 1869, but due to financial limitations, it was not completely finished until 1876.

Location

401 N. Delaware St.
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
39.77290, -86.15382

Categories

ARCHITECTURERELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Questions about this property

When was Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church listed on the National Register?

Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 18, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church?

Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church?

The period of significance for Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal Church?

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