First Presbyterian Church - Keytesville, Missouri
Posted by: YoSam.
N 39° 26.150 W 092° 56.206
15S E 505441 N 4365145
Church built, 1853 in Classic Revival style. THEN the tower was built as Romanesque Revival.
Waymark Code: WM11XZA
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 01/08/2020
Views: 1
County of church Chariton County
Location of church: Hill St., between Park St. & Ash St., Keytesville
Church Built: 1853 - Style: Classic Revival
Tower Built: 1900 - Style Romanesque Revival
Tower Architect: A.R. Elliot
KEYTESVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
"The Keytesville Presbyterian Church was built in 1853, twenty years after the town of Keytesville was founded, and was the first permanent religious structure in Keytesville. The original, simple design was maintained during a renovation in 1900 when architect A.R. Elliott planned for the addition of the current 45-foot bell tower and vestibule, stained glass windows, and gabled extension on the east wall. At the time of the renovation, the pews that had originally faced north were replaced with curved, walnut pews that faced east, and the slave balcony (along the south wall) was removed. The interior of the church features white plaster walls above pressed metal wainscotting, and a tongue and groove wooden floor. Lack of membership in the late 1950's and early 1960's forced the church to cease operation. The Friends of Keytesville, Inc. now owns and maintains the property. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976." ~ Marker on site, erected by The Dred and Lula Finnell Truxt Fund Board and The Friends of Keytesville, Inc.
"The First Presbyterian Church, Keytesvi11e, Missouri, is a rectangular-plan, plus addition wood-frame, one-story building designed in the Classic Revival,
style in 1853 with a turn-of-the-century Romanesque Revival derivative style addition. The building faces south. A southwest, two-story plus belfry tower
is a dominant feature. The mid-portion of the east wall has a semi-octagonal, gabled addition.
"The church had a balcony, at the rear of the sanctuary, for slaves. This
facility reflected the slave economy of the early members, many of whom came
from Virginia and Kentucky to settle this region of Missouri known as "Little Dixie."
"The 1900 renovation project was designed by an architect, A. R. Elliott. Carpenters for the project were Fuqua & Ziemer. The stone foundation for these
sections was laid by John Bulch "of the vicinity of Indian Grove."' ~ NRHP Nomination Form
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