St. Johns Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Set on a hilltop one block from Albion's town square, this small brick church was built in 1842 on a lot donated by town founder George Flower. Its walls are laid with locally fired brick over a sandstone foundation, and its main block is a simple rectangle with a chancel and a small sacristy. Under the guidance of its rector, Benjamin Hutchins, the building was extensively remodeled in 1890-91. A new roof and floor were installed, the timber-trussed ceiling was opened, the gallery was removed, and a brick arch created a deeper chancel. A bell tower with the entrance at its base was added at the southwest corner. Large lancet-arched nave windows, walnut entry doors, wainscoting and open trusses survive. The church is recognized as a plain, rural-style Gothic Revival design influenced by English parish churches, and as the only nineteenth-century example of that style in Albion. A parish hall was added in 1985, and the chancel windows received stained glass in 1999.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a good local example of Gothic Revival architecture, specifically a simplified 'Prairie' Gothic version of English parish church design common in rural Episcopal churches. It retains original features such as pointed-arch nave windows with tracery, locally fired brick and an open timber ceiling. It is the only nineteenth-century Gothic Revival building in Albion.
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 12000027, listed February 15, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 20 E. Cherry St., Albion |
|---|---|
| County | Edwards County |
| Listed | February 15, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000027 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1842-1891 |
| Architect / builder | Not known |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; a modern parish hall was added in the 1980s and a non-contributing metal storage shed stands in the west yard. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.37761, -88.05781 (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 12000027.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900579
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.