St. Anne's Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 on a narrow 37-foot lot on South Main Street in Anna, Illinois, this small Episcopal church is made of native fieldstone laid in irregular courses. Its steep gabled roof, lancet windows, pointed arches and stone buttress show the Gothic Revival style, while the shingled gables, entry porch and decorative wood trim draw on Queen Anne design. Local builder James Dickenson, one of the congregation's organizers, contracted to build it for $600. A square bell tower once stood at the front corner but was taken down around 1914. Inside, white plaster walls support open wooden trusses and a vaulted paneled ceiling. The congregation was organized in 1883 and recognized as a diocesan mission in 1886. The church was de-sanctified in 1977 and has stood empty since, suffering roof leaks and vandalism. It is considered locally significant as the only Gothic Revival building in Anna and a fine example of a small stone church of its period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is locally significant under Criterion C as a good example of Late Victorian Gothic Revival stone architecture in Anna, where no other Gothic Revival structures exist. It also has early Queen Anne elements in its porch, shingled gables and decorative wood trim. Criteria Consideration A applies because it was built as a religious property.
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 02001758, listed February 5, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 507 S Main St., Anna |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Listed | February 5, 2003 |
| Reference number | 02001758 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886 |
| Architect / builder | Dickenson, James, Builder |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / Gothic Revival; Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Empty since the 1977 de-sanctification and in very poor condition from neglect and vandalism; a nonprofit group was gifted the property and funded new roof decking and shingles in 2001. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.45951, -89.25324 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 02001758.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7587008
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.