It was designed by famed local architect Solon Spencer Beman in the Romanesque Revival style.

Don Carlos Newton donated a large sum of money to erect a new Methodist church in Batavia.

Newton had recently visited southern France and was intrigued by the local French Romanesque Revival style.

He recommended this style to prominent local architect Solon Spencer Beman, who was commissioned to design the building.

Limestone details were carefully crafted to provide contrast to the more erratic pattern of the boulders.