Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church

Rare Beauty

The future remains unclear for Richmond’s Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, a return entry on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list. Empty since 2017 when dwindling attendance caused the presbytery to close the church, the property remains in limbo under a complex ownership situation with a ticking clock. Richmond industrialist Daniel Reid financed construction of the church, and the deed stipulates that Reid’s heirs can take ownership of the building if it ceases to function as a church for more than a decade.

Architects Sidney Badgley and William H. Nicklas of Cleveland, Ohio, designed the towering Gothic limestone church. Built in 1906, it still draws attention at the corner of North A and 11th streets. The interior is even more eye-catching, with a dramatic fan-vaulted ceiling, carved wooden trim, a historic organ built by Boston’s Hook and Hastings, and 62 stained-glass windows and furnishings by New York’s Tiffany Studios. Out-of-state parties have expressed interest in acquiring the Tiffany windows, a character-defining feature that, if removed, would diminish the landmark’s presence and value in the community.

A coalition of city, community, and presbytery leaders have joined Indiana Landmarks in voicing support for saving the landmark and brainstorming new uses. A conditions study undertaken by Entheos Architects and funded by Sacred Places Indiana found the church in overall good condition, but it needs up to $4.6 million in repairs to fully address deferred maintenance, halt further damage, and upgrade building systems. It’s a hefty price tag in a city already struggling to find solutions for several vacant landmarks.