St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex
Also known as: Deliverance Temple of God & Christ
Why it's listed
Four buildings at the corner of Sherman and Peckham Streets in Buffalo's East Side record the story of a German Lutheran congregation. Organized in 1858 by fifteen families from Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, the group built its first brick church in 1859, the first German Lutheran church on the East Side. A parsonage followed in 1864. By the 1880s the congregation needed more room, so the original church became a four-classroom school and a larger brick church was built beside it, designed by Louis Saenger and built by Henrich Schaefer, then dedicated in 1885. It combines Gothic and Romanesque Revival details, including a 176-foot steeple, lancet windows by Leo P. Frohe, and an open timber truss interior. A Queen Anne style parsonage was added in 1892. The original parsonage, heavily altered in the twentieth century, does not contribute to the complex. The congregation served the district's German community until declining membership led to its closing in 1983. Buffalo designated the complex a city landmark in 1981.
Significance in brief: The complex is tied to the early history of the German immigrant community on Buffalo's East Side. The 1859 church was the first German Lutheran church built there. The 1885 church is an intact example of eclectic church architecture combining Gothic and Romanesque Revival features, and the 1892 parsonage is a Queen Anne style residence.
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 83001674, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Sherman and Peckham Sts., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001674 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1859 - 1892 |
| Architect / builder | Henrich Schaefer (builder); Louis Saenger, local architect, prepared the plans for the 1885 church |
| Architectural style | Eclectic church architecture with Gothic and Romanesque Revival features; Queen Anne style parsonage |
| Areas of significance | European, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The congregation closed in 1983 after declining membership; the form lists the property as occupied, with the 1885 church in only minor alteration and the original parsonage altered and non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.88813, -78.84656 (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 83001674.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7586879
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.