Old Danish Church
Also known as: St. Peters Evangelical Danish Lutheran Church
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1880 at the corner of Cook and Washington Streets in Sheffield, Illinois, this white clapboard church served the first Danish Lutheran congregation in America. The building is fifty-six feet long and thirty-two feet wide, with a seventy-five foot tower holding the original bell bought in 1885. Its Victorian-Gothic styling includes shutters and a gabled roof, and the foundation is flagstone. Inside, plaster walls have gold fresco borders, three symbolic ceiling frescoes with original kerosene chandeliers, a primitive crucifixion painting above the altar, and a baptismal font made by early members. Congregation members built the church, and the designer is unknown. Danish immigrants from Lolland began organizing in 1867, and the congregation was formally organized in 1869. The nomination states it is the oldest surviving Danish Lutheran church structure in America, because an earlier Michigan church was demolished. Native son Hans Peder Bertelsen later became a Lutheran minister, reflecting the church's place in early Danish immigration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the church housed the oldest congregation of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, organized in 1869. It is described as the oldest surviving Danish Lutheran church structure in America, since an earlier one in Michigan was demolished. It is also tied to early Danish immigration through figures such as Hans Peder Bertelsen.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000691, listed October 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE corner of Cook and Washington Sts., Sheffield |
|---|---|
| County | Bureau County |
| Listed | October 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000691 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1880 |
| Architect / builder | Designer unknown; built by members of the congregation |
| Architectural style | Victorian-Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition on its original site and only slightly altered; the form notes the pews, chimney and wood shingle roof need restoration. Owned by the Village of Sheffield. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.35753, -89.73510 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000691.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24898909
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.