Greenville's Methodist church congregation was organized about 1830 and first met in a school. In 1838, this land was donated for a church, and in 1899 that earlier building was torn down so the current structure could be erected, reusing the original foundation stones. The Victorian Gothic church was designed by Pennsylvania architect Benjamin Price, built by Capt. John Nafius of New Albany, and paid for by Capt. John Ford, a former Greenville resident. Its curved oak pews were made in Ohio and assembled on site. Dedicated to the service of God on October 22, 1899, the church was named for Matthew Simpson at Capt. Ford's suggestion after the congregation had wanted to name it for him. Simpson was identified as a Methodist Bishop, U.S. Senator from Indiana, and a close friend of Abraham Lincoln. On March 26, 1908, when most of Greenville burned to the ground, the church was one of only a few buildings left untouched. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 2004.