National Register Statement of Significance, written in 1986.
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“Monnett
Memorial Chapel is significant for its architectural merit in this rural
North Central Ohio area. The design of the chapel, though on a much
reduced scale is typical of the churches designed by Frank L. Packard.
The Monnett family, whose ancestors were the earliest circuit riders for
the Methodist Episcopal Church in the area, commissioned Packard, a well-known
architect, to build this unique structure for rural Crawford County in
order to better compete with more prosperous urban congregations. “While
most other country churches and chapels in the area are vernacular in
style and built of brick or wood, this chapel
is constructed of stone and was designed in an "English
Country Motif" by Packard. Frank L. Packard's firm (Yost &
Packard) designed similar churches for the Presbyterian Church (1902) in
Barnesville, Ohio and the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church (1900) in
Delaware, Ohio. These two other contemporaneous examples also feature
the main entrance in a 1 and 1/2 story square belltower and stone
construction. The Monnett design, building material, and likely the
choice of architect are significant in that the Monnett Memorial Chapel
Association wanted to create a substantial and prosperous image in a
time during Methodist Episcopal Church history when the rural circuits
were competing with more populous and financially prosperous urban
congregations for ministers and membership. “Historical
development of this chapel and the Monnett family are important to the
early history of the Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Church in North Central
Ohio The M.E. Church was distinguished from other denominations on the
Ohio frontier for its system of traveling ministers, or itinerancy, who
rode circuits. The Isaac Monnett log home was one of the first stops for
itinerant ministers in 1829. In 1835, the Reverend Jeremiah Monnett,
Isaac's brother, donated his former log home to the M.E. Church as a
circuit stop. The Reverend Jeremiah Monnett, wife Aley (Slagle), and
fifteen children were pioneers in this portion of the state. Their
settlement in southern Crawford County, and subsequent formation of the
first Monnett Chapel community, helped to create a unity among other
early settlers. Reverend Jeremiah Monnett first rode this circuit in the
1820s. His son, Reverend Thomas J. Monnett, succeeded him. These early
riders would visit a stop every three to four weeks. Regular weekly
services did not occur at Monnett Chapel until the present building was
constructed in 1904. “The
ministers and congregation of Monnett Chapel encouraged religious
development and growth of the M.E. faith. Reverend Jeremiah Monnett
donated land for a small wood-framed rectangular chapel and a cemetery
in 1849. The present stone Chapel replaced that building. Monnett Chapel
became the primary seat in a four church circuit; the other churches are
at Kirkpatrick, Lykens Chapel, and Scioto Chapel. “As
Ohio towns and cities grew, their more populous and financially
prosperous congregations drained the rural circuits of good ministers
and membership. With better roads and automobiles, the rural family
could more easily attend church in towns like Bucyrus instead of small
chapels such as Monnett. The Monnett family recognizing these problems,
founded the Monnett Memorial Chapel Association to finance the present
structure and hopefully to better compete with other circuits for
ministers. The solid stone structure's image was an attempt to secure
the identity of the rural church and attract not only ministers but
families. In 1901, money was donated or willed to the new chapel
building fund and F(rancis) S(ylvester) Monnett, grandson of Reverend
Jeremiah Monnett and one-time attorney general of Ohio, donated the two-acre
site. The chapel was completed and dedicated in 1904. It presently
houses a Baptist congregation. “A further
philanthropic contribution of the Monnett family to the Methodist
Episcopal Church was made by Mary Monnett-Bain in 1857 when she donated
$10,000 toward the completion of a new building to house the Ohio
Wesleyan Female College in Delaware, Ohio. Monnett Hall, a Delaware
landmark, was razed in 1978. “The
Monnett family and their chapel have served the Methodist Episcopal
religion in both ministry and outreach programs for over eighty years in
North Central Ohio. Its unique architecture in the rural landscape is
evidence of a transition period in church history and evidence of one
family's commitment to that faith. “The
Monnett Memorial M.E. Chapel is a fine small scale example of Packard's
church architecture. The church displays typical characteristics of his
style; rustic stone construction, squat corner belltower and bellcast
roof with low, flared eaves.” |
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