herr2ck: Frat Row’s Church

January 2026.

Indianola Presbyterian Church, like Graham Elementary and Middle School, is an odd standout in the “Frat Row” section of the University District. It is a reminder of the banal, everyday life that the area once had before its domination by the Greek system and their subsequent effect on the space and demographics of the area. Although this church seems to be pretty progressive, the contrast between a Gothic Revival place of worship and the parties held practically in its backyard is pretty strange.

Indianola Presbyterian is located at 1970 Waldeck Avenue in the University District neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. It is bordered by an apartment building to the north, Iuka Avenue and frat houses to the south and east, and Waldeck Avenue to the west.

History

1924 postcard of Indianola Presbyterian. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

The Indianola Presbyterian congregation was founded in 1914, according to its own website, but Columbus Metropolitan Library says its first service was in 1909. Regardless, the present Gothic Revival church building was completed in 1916, though its architect is unknown. One notable member of the congregation who reportedly preached frequently was William Oxley Thompson, president of The Ohio State University. At its peak, there were 1,500 members of the church, largely local homeowners.

I’m not sure if any renovations or additions have occurred to the main church building, but an office building was constructed to the north of the church in 1955. It is Modern in style but maintains the masonry construction of the church’s exterior.

Indianola Presbyterian markets itself as a progressive congregation (they have a land acknowledgement on their website, for instance), but I also found a Columbus Free Press article written by a former OSU professor that calls the church out for several contradictions of this claim, in particular its embrace of William Oxley Thompson. If you aren’t familiar, Thompson successfully advocated for the resegregation of Columbus’s schools in the early 20th century. I think the article is a bit heavy-handed, but it makes good points, and you can read it here.

As of 2026, Indianola Presbyterian has just 120 members, with 60 attending services each Sunday. The aging church has suffered from deferred maintenance, such as deteriorating plaster walls inside the nave. One step that the congregation has taken to address its finances is the sale and demolition of two houses it purchased decades ago (in efforts to maintain stability and avoid deterioration in the neighborhood) for the construction of a new apartment building, known as Woodruff & Waldeck. The church is the majority owner and commissioned the building in association with Buckeye Real Estate, and it was designed by Blostein/Overly Architects (who are also architecture professors at Knowlton).

Photos

This is certainly one of the picturesque Gothic Revival churches of its time--uneven massing and jumbled elements that are usually rigid on medieval Gothic cathedrals.

West facade of the church:

The southern end is shorter and has a transept:

Its large window is influenced by English Gothic architecture.

Indianola Presbyterian’s tower is pretty simple, with smaller stained-glass windows and a crenellated top:

A more oblique view:

The main entrance has the original wooden doors, along with a smooth stone portal that contrasts with the rougher masonry walls:

I like the varying shapes of the openings above.

The longer northern end of the church has a simpler section with a flat roof attached to the nave. It is likely used for Sunday school:

The lighting was sporadic the day I visited, but at least the south facade was nicely lit:

This shallower portion is symmetrical and has matching transepts and aisles. The altar is likely on this side as well.

The east end is pretty strange, since it abuts a frat house and parking lot. It lacks the massive tower as well:

It seems like there is a daycare here, judging by the pint-sized playground equipment.

A view of the church office and the Woodruff & Waldeck apartment building:

This is one of the more complementary Modern designs I’ve seen on a church building. The rectangular windows with aluminum sashes are undoubtedly Modernist, but the masonry construction is harmonious with the main church: