House of worship, Detroit, since 1867
Central United Methodist Church
Still standing, photographed 2025
- Opened
- 1867
- Style
- Gothic Revival
- Standing
- 159 years
Designed by Gordon W. Lloyd and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
Central United Methodist Church has stood on E. Adams St. in Detroit since 1867, 159 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
More photos of Central United Methodist Church
What is there now
Standing and open
- Electrical permit TEMPORARY PERMIT - PARKING LOT Source: City and county building permits
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1867, as Detroit's lumber, stove and shipbuilding money went into brick and stone, Central United Methodist Church opened.
Gordon W. Lloyd and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls drew the plans, working in Gothic Revival.
It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
It still stands and still opens its doors.
Next time you are nearby, stop at 23 E. Adams St and look up.
The Central United Methodist Church is located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1977 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Timeline
- 1867 Built Designed by Gordon W. Lloyd and Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
- 1982 Listed on the National Register August 3, 1982
- 2025 Electrical permit October 20, 2025
- 2026 Today 159 years and still standing
Where it is
23 E. Adams St.
On this map
- 1 Central United Methodist Church This place
- 2 Huntington Bank Tower 250 ft
- 3 Detroit College of Law 290 ft
- 4 Wolverine Hotel 340 ft
- 5 Grand Circus Park Historic District 350 ft
- 6 Grand Circus Park Historic District (Boundary Increase) 360 ft
- 7 YMCA (Downtown Branch) 360 ft
- 8 Madison Theatre Building 380 ft
- 9 Fyfe Apartments 460 ft
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
Christ Church, by Gordon W. Lloyd. Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Gordon W. LloydEnglish-American architect, 1832 to 1904. Designed Christ Church (1863) and 17 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Gordon W. Lloyd
Architect
Smith, Hinchman & GryllsAmerican architectural and engineering company, founded 1853. Designed the Penobscot Building (1928) and 68 more in Metro Detroit
Also by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls
More from Detroit in the 1860s
-
![Griswold Hotel, Griswold Hotel [lobby, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4523-2324-thumb-15fabace68.jpg)
Griswold Hotel
Hotel, built 1868, demolished 1961
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
-
St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
House of worship, built 1870, Late Gothic Revival, by Donaldson & Meier
Photo: Nheyob, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Academy of the Sacred Heart
School, built 1862, English Gothic, by James W. Wall, demolished 1920
Photo: Appraiser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Monument, built 1872, Classic Revival
Photo: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
St. John's-St. Luke's Evangelical Church
House of worship, built 1872, Late Victorian
Photo: Andrew Jameson at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Hilsendegen Block Building, built 1867, Italianate, by Peter Dederichs, demolished 1953
Around the block
-
Huntington Bank Tower
Skyscraper, built 2022
Photo: Supreme Boonz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
250 ft
- Detroit College of Law School, built 1937, Art Moderne, by George D. Mason, demolished 1997 290 ft
- Wolverine Hotel Hotel, built 1921, Italian Renaissance, by L.P. Rowe, demolished 1997 340 ft
-
Grand Circus Park Historic District
Building
Photo: Mikerussell at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
350 ft
-
Grand Circus Park Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Historic district
Photo: Mikerussell at the English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
360 ft
- YMCA (Downtown Branch) Building, built 1909, by Donaldson & Meier, demolished 1997 360 ft
-
![Madison Theatre Building, [View of Madison Theatre and Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mich.]](https://rebuilddetroit.com/wp-content/uploads/rd-photos/landmarks/landmark-4627-2357-thumb-b2374e7d74.jpg)
Madison Theatre Building
Theater, built 1917, Neoclassical, by C. Howard Crane
Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, no known restrictions, via Library of Congress
380 ft
- Fyfe Apartments Building, built 1919, by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls 460 ft
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- Woodward Avenue through Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit, Michigan (between 1905 and 1915); in the middle distance... Photo: Detroit Publishing Company, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- The Central United Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan (United States), 2025 Photo: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Central United Methodist Church in Detroit, Michigan, United States, is listed on the US National Register of Historic..., 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Central United Methodist Church Detroit, 1899 Photo: Silas Farmer, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- The landmark St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Umdet, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sources
Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.