imported>Lepricavark: /* top */ prepended 'Use mdy dates' tag

2025-01-18T05:32:27Z

top: prepended 'Use mdy dates' tag

New page

{{short description|Historic church in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel and Cemetery
| nrhp_type =
| image = Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel 5.jpg
| caption =
| location = NW of Golden, [[Golden, Illinois]]
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coord|40|9|31|N|91|6|9|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Illinois#USA
| built = 1858
| architect =
| architecture =
| added = June 4, 1984
| area = {{convert|5|acre}}
| refnum = 84000921<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
}}

The '''Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel and Cemetery''' is a historic church located northwest of [[Golden, Illinois|Golden]], [[Adams County, Illinois|Adams County]], [[Illinois]]. The church was built in 1858–59 for the local [[Methodist Episcopal Church|Methodist Episcopal]] congregation.

== Architecture ==
The church was built in 1858–59 for the local [[Methodist Episcopal Church|Methodist Episcopal]] congregation. The church has a vernacular [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]] design; while the style was common in Illinois before the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the church is now the only one of its type in the county. The church is a white sided building on a [[limestone]] foundation; it is topped by a [[gable roof]] with a simple [[entablature]] at either end.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Willard |first1=John |last2=Ward |first2=Michael |date=January 1984 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel and Cemetery |url=http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/pdfs/201275.pdf |access-date=July 28, 2015 |publisher=Illinois Historic Preservation Agency}}{{dead link|date=February 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It was built from local timber and hand-hewn with adzes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Sharrow |first=Roy L |date=August 31, 1941 |title=Some Ebenezer History |url=https://adams-ilgw.genealogyvillage.com/church/church_ebenezer.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=IL Gen-Web}}</ref>

The interior holds pews in a U-shape, and seating was originally separated by gender.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Seward |first=Rudy Ray |date=2022-05-28 |title=Secluded Ebenezer Chapel celebrates its 164th year |url=https://www.whig.com/lifestyles/history/secluded-ebenezer-chapel-celebrates-its-164th-year/article_27774236-de0d-11ec-afdd-574c28b2d77a.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Herald-Whig |language=en}}</ref> It contains two pot-belly stoves, a pulpit, and a piano.<ref name=":2" />

The church's cemetery, located to the west of the building, has had burials since 1857 and contains both members and non-members of the church.<ref name=":0" />

The church is located in a remote rural setting, nearly two miles on unpaved roads from the nearest highway.<ref name=":2" /> There is no heat, indoor plumbing, or electricity.

== History ==
On October 5, 1858, "George W. Foss, deputy surveyor for the county of Adams, surveyed a tract of land in section 16, belonging to William Willard, for the purpose of transferring it over to a society known as the Ebenezer Chapel Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church."<ref name=":1" />

On September 23, 1859, the deed was written by Thomas Crawford, justice of the peace in [[Houston Township, Adams County, Illinois|Houston Township]], for the Ebenezer Society for the price of one dollar.<ref name=":1" /> The first trustees of the society were elected on December 10, 1858.<ref name=":1" />

In 1893, the Ebenezer Burial Ground Association was formed.<ref name=":1" /> An additional tract north of the property was purchased to expand the cemetery.<ref name=":1" /> In 1925, both cemetery yards were governed by one set of trustees.<ref name=":1" />

Ebenezer Chapel Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was active for nearly a century before merging with Centennial Methodist Church in 1955.<ref name=":2" /> The combined congregation currently holds services at the Centennial church, except for the Sunday before Memorial Day which is held in the old Ebenezer Chapel.<ref name=":2" />

In 1982, the chapel was in need of repair. A new non-profit was formed called Ebenezer Chapel and Burial Society.<ref name=":2" />

The church was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on June 4, 1984. It is one of two sites on the National Register in Golden, the other being the [[Exchange Bank (Golden, Illinois)|Exchange Bank]].

[[File:Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel 9.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the chapel]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel and Cemetery}}
* {{Find a Grave cemetery}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel And Cemetery}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Adams County, Illinois]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Adams County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Cemeteries in Adams County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Methodist churches in Illinois]]
[[Category:Methodist cemeteries]]
[[Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Illinois]]
[[Category:Churches in Adams County, Illinois]]

Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Chapel and Cemetery - Revision history

imported>Lepricavark: /* top */ prepended 'Use mdy dates' tag