Saint Luke's Episcopal Church
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
St. Luke's Episcopal Church sits on a corner lot at 85 Greenway South in Forest Hills Gardens, a planned residential community in Queens. Built in 1924 and expanded in 1929, 1940 and 1950, it is an L-shaped building of klinker brick with a clay tile roof, a three-story square bell tower and a 94-foot-long sanctuary. Architect Robert Tappan, a local resident and parishioner who had worked with Ralph Adams Cram, designed the church and the first three phases without charging a fee. Steward Wagner designed the 1950 Parish Hall to match. The interior has brick arches, a vaulted wooden ceiling and a collection of memorial stained glass, including at least two windows by James Powell and Sons of London. The church is significant for architecture as an example of early-twentieth century Collegiate Gothic design. Its patterned brickwork and red tile roof suit the Arts and Crafts character of the surrounding community. Parishioners' donations paid for its construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding example of early-twentieth century Collegiate Gothic architecture under Criterion C. It is the work of Robert Tappan, who worked with Ralph Adams Cram, and it fits the Arts and Crafts character of the planned community of Forest Hills Gardens. It was built in stages, and later additions followed Tappan's design.
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 10000900, listed November 10, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 85 Greenway South, Forest Hills |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | November 10, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000900 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Robert Tappan (architect); Steward Wagner (architect-Parish Hall) |
| Architectural style | Collegiate Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function are both listed as church (religion). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.71597, -73.84422 (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 10000900.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16899609
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.