Chester Township near Gates Mills in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

St. Christopher's by the River Episcopal Church

Photographed by Grant & Mary Ann Fish, April 12, 2025

1. St. Christopher's by the River Episcopal Church Marker

Inscription. Described as “one of the region’s great examples of Greek Revival church architecture,” the building was erected in 1853. Holsey Gates, founder of Gates Mills in 1826, financed most of the construction of the church, which served Methodist Episcopal congregants until 1926. With the decline in that denomination’s attendance, an Episcopal mission acquired the building in 1927 and renamed it St. Christopher’s by the River. Church trustee and eminent Cleveland architect Frank Walker made historically sensitive renovations to the building soon after. More were made in 1953-1954, 1965, and 1984. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Erected 2020 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation; Gates Mills Historical Society; Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 140-18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection, and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1853.

Location. 41° 31.053′ N, 81° 24.289′ W.

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Marker is near Gates Mills, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is in Chester Township. It is on Old Mill Road 0.1 miles west of Chagrin River Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7601 Old Mill Rd, Gates Mills OH 44040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Cleveland,

on the Lake Erie Shore,

and in the Western Reserve.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Mills of Gates Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Ursuline College (approx. 3.4 miles away); Saint Angela Merici (approx. 3.4 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.6 miles away); The Cleveland Grand Prix (approx. 4.1 miles away); Squire's Castle (approx. 4.4 miles

Marker with the church in the background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grant & Mary Ann Fish, April 13, 2025

2. Marker with the church in the background

away); The "Castle" As It Was / The "Castle" Today (approx. 4.4 miles away); a different marker also named Squire's Castle (approx. 4.4 miles away).

Church service times sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grant & Mary Ann Fish, April 13, 2025

3. Church service times sign

Local landmark plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Grant & Mary Ann Fish, April 13, 2025

4. Local landmark plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2025, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. This page has been viewed 201 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 19, 2025, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.