{"nrhp_refnum":"73000432","name":"St. Matthew's Episcopal Church","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"521 E. 8th St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"National City","county":"San Diego County","state":"CA","lat":32.677733886000055,"lon":-117.10155029299995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1973-10-25","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Religion"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A small frame Gothic-style Episcopal church at 521 E. 8th Street, National City, San Diego County, California, completed in July 1887 and designed by a Mr. Crocker of Chula Vista.","why_significant":"The nomination cites its architecture, its craftsmanship, and its age: it is the oldest remaining church building in National City and very likely the oldest Protestant church building in San Diego County. It stands on its original site with only minor changes. It was also recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey and declared a historic building by the National City council.","narrative":"Built in 1887 at 521 E. 8th Street in National City, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is a small wooden church in a simple Gothic style influenced by English country churches. A steep gable roof covers the altar, nave and entrance, and a tall octagonal side bell tower with an unusual broken roofline dominates the design. The design is attributed to a Mr. Crocker of Chula Vista, reportedly inspired by pictures of a church in southern England. Timbers are Georgia pine and the remaining wood is California redwood, milled at Frank Kimball's sawmill. The interior wood, varnished at construction, has never been refinished. The congregation traces to an Episcopal society formed in 1882, and services have been held regularly since July 1887. It is considered the oldest remaining church building in National City and very likely the oldest Protestant church building in San Diego County. Changes have been minor, and it was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1970.","period_of_significance":"19th Century (specific date 7-3-1887)","architect_builder":"Mr. Crocker of Chula Vista (design attributed)","architectural_style":"Simple Gothic with strong influence of the English country church","criteria":[],"status_note":"In use for regular services by its congregation and shared with a Samoan congregation; condition described as good and lovingly maintained.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:31.914111-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/73000432.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/73000432/e67642f4d6-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/73000432/e67642f4d6-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Marvin Rand, HABS photographer","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Matthew%27s_Episcopal_Church_(National_City,_CA).jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Marvin Rand, HABS photographer</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Matthew%27s_Episcopal_Church_(National_City,_CA).jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123860991","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Matthew%27s_Episcopal_Church_(National_City,_California)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5909008"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/san-diego-county/st-matthews-episcopal-church-73000432/"}