Richmond Landmark Reaches New Milestone
August 7, 2026
After years of collaboration, the former Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church in Richmond, IN, has become the property of The Reid Center, a nonprofit created to preserve this historic landmark. The transfer of ownership was made possible by The Reid Center’s partnership with Whitewater Valley Presbytery and Indiana Landmarks, an historic preservation organization.
"The Reid Center is a national treasure, and we've been working diligently over the past several years to ensure it is protected and utilized,” said Mary Walker, president of The Reid Center Board of Directors. “This property transfer is the result of a beautiful collaboration between many parties, including the Reid family. It shows how important this building is to the culture and history of Richmond, and we are thrilled that The Reid Center is now its official caretaker. What an honor to be entrusted with such a special place."
Many in the community have come to know The Reid Center for its grand exterior, magnificent internal design and, in recent years, numerous offerings as a performance venue. Ten years ago, its future was less promising. When the congregation at Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church made the difficult decision to dissolve and then concluded its ministry in November 2017, Whitewater Valley Presbytery appointed an Administrative Commission as official caretakers to develop recommendations about the building’s future.
“When a congregation dissolves and leaves a vacant church building, the Presbytery carefully considers how that property might continue to support the mission and ministry of the former congregation, the Presbytery, and the Presbyterian Church (USA),” explains Rev. Dr. Erin McGee, Lead Presbyter, Whitewater Valley Presbytery. While some such properties are sold, others may be transferred to community partners whose mission reflects the values of the Presbytery and congregation.
Indiana Landmarks, headquartered in Indianapolis, also took interest in the building’s plight, listing it among the 10 Most Endangered historical sites in the state in 2019 and 2020. Built in 1906 at a cost of more than $7.5 million in today’s currency, the church was a gift from Daniel G. Reid to his home Presbyterian congregation as a tribute to his late parents. Having amassed great wealth in manufacturing, Reid spared no expense, contracting with Tiffany Studios of New York to design 62 stained glass windows and all interior furnishings. The 1906 Hook & Hastings (Boston, MA) pipe organ was state of the art, and the 1905 Starr 9-ft. concert grand piano is thought to be the only one now in existence.
Through conversations between interested Richmond residents, Indiana Landmarks and the Administrative Commission, interest in saving the building for community use grew. In April 2018, the Commission hosted a meeting with Reid family heirs and local preservationists, including Ray Ontko, now a member of The Reid Center Board of Directors. “I see this as the moment when the seed was planted for the creation of a new nonprofit organization for the preservation of the church in ways that honored the legacy of Daniel G. Reid and the stewardship of the congregation and Presbytery,” Ontko said.
According to Ontko, the original transfer deed from Daniel Reid to the congregation stipulated that ownership of the property would revert to Reid’s heirs once it ceased to be used as a worship space for 10 years. The Administrative Commission negotiated a new agreement with all living heirs: The Presbytery would retain the title and preserve the building for occasional worship and as a memorial to Reid. This opened the way for community members to establish a new nonprofit, incorporated in March 2021 as The Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church and Community Center, Inc. (dba The Reid Center). In December 2024, a Memo of Understanding was created with the Presbytery and Indiana Landmarks for the eventual transfer of ownership to The Reid Center.
“I am so thrilled that the Richmond community has embraced the repurposing of the Reid Memorial Church as a performing arts center,” said Leigh Topping Brady, great-granddaughter of Reid. It’s an honor to the legacy of my great-grandfather and it’s an important piece of history for Richmond. I have had the pleasure of visiting Richmond several times and have learned so much about the significance of Richmond as an industrial and cultural center at the turn of the last century.”
Years of visioning, investment, and collective care have made this building’s journey a shared success story. For Mark Dollase, vice president at Indiana Landmarks, it exemplifies the potential of historic preservation: “Its transformation into a community arts center by The Reid Center has made it a catalyst for downtown revitalization and a future gathering place for generations of area residents."
Both the Presbytery and Indiana Landmarks will continue to be part of The Reid Center’s story. The terms for transfer of ownership specify that three worship/liturgical events will be held each year, collaborating in ministry with the Presbytery. In addition, Indiana Landmarks relocated its Eastern Regional Office to the building’s lower level in 2024, having invested $262,000 in renovating their space. "Indiana Landmarks is pleased to be a long-term tenant in the former Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church, one of the most significant historic buildings in Richmond and Wayne County," stated Dollase.
“The Presbytery is delighted that in cooperation with the Reid heirs and The Reid Center, this historic building will continue to benefit and support Richmond with lively arts and culture while retaining the architecture and heritage of a Presbyterian church,” said McGee. “We also look forward to the worship services celebrated in partnership with the Presbytery that will be held in this beautiful space in years to come.”
As new owner of the property, The Reid Center will continue its mission of preserving the building’s historical and artistic significance for enjoyment by the public and serving the community as a space for visual and performing arts, educational activities, gatherings, and other events. The fall 2026 Reid Center performance listing, including historical tours, is available at reidcenter.org/events.
Contact:
Jenny Williams, Operations Administrator, The Reid Center
jwilliams@reidcenter.org
765-966-7618