St. Paulus Evangelisch Lutherischen Gemeinde
Also known as: Kornthal Church,or Kornthal Union County Memorial
Why it's listed
Set beside a stream in the wooded Kornthal valley, the "valley of grain," this white weatherboarded church was built by Austrian Lutheran immigrants who arrived in Union County in 1852. Work began in 1853 on a 30 by 50 foot limestone foundation with a native yellow poplar frame. Charles Fettinger designed it and carved the wainscoting, window fans, doors, altar and pulpit. It was finished in 1860 and dedicated in 1861. The design follows the Betsaal, or House of Prayer, tradition of central Europe. A bell tower, 85 feet to the top of its spire, was added in 1889. Inside, a U-shaped balcony encircles a carved altar and pulpit under a wooden canopy. A Queen Anne parsonage from about 1905 to 1910 is also included. The church is valued for its craftsmanship, its integrity, and its role as the last surviving feature of a German-speaking settlement that once had a mill, a store and several small factories.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its design and the high quality of its craftsmanship and detailing, which reflect the central European culture of the immigrants who built it. It is described as the last vestige of the once thriving German-speaking culture in Southern Illinois and as a source of information on immigrant folk architecture. The building and its wooded rural setting are described as remarkably intact.
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 80001413, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Jonseboro off IL 127, Jonesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001413 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1860 (completed) |
| Architect / builder | Charles Theodore Fettinger |
| Architectural style | Betsaal (House of Prayer) style of central Europe; parsonage in Queen Anne style |
| Areas of significance | European, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as unaltered on its original site, in good condition. Services ended in 1949; the church is now held by a memorial board of trustees and is listed as occupied. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 37.41566, -89.27513 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80001413.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591289
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.