Church of St. Lawrence
Also known as: Basilica of St. Lawrence; See Also:79001676
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Why it's listed
Rising above Haywood Street in Asheville, the Church of St. Lawrence is a three-story brick Catholic church with an elliptical plan, twin tile-domed towers and a Spanish Baroque character interpreted through Beaux-Arts design. Spanish-born architect Rafael Guastavino, who kept a summer home near Black Mountain, offered to build it after attending Mass in the small wooden church that preceded it. Its broad nave dome, spanning 58 by 82 feet, is made of structural tile and gypsum mortar without interior supports, a technique Guastavino called cohesive construction. He died in 1908, and his son Rafael Guastavino Jr. finished the building, which was dedicated in 1909. Inside are polychromed terra cotta altar pieces, a Lady Chapel sheathed in blue tile, and the elder architect's crypt. A rectory built in 1929 is joined to the church by a colonnaded passage. The church remains in active use and was renovated in 1968.
Significance in brief: The church is a dramatic example of Guastavino's "cohesive construction," seen in its self-supporting tile-and-mortar elliptical dome spanning 58 by 82 feet. It is executed in a Beaux-Arts interpretation of Spanish Baroque, reflecting the architect's Spanish origins. It was completed by his son after his death in 1908.
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 78001933, listed March 24, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 97 Haywood St., Asheville |
|---|---|
| County | Buncombe County |
| Listed | March 24, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001933 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-1909, renovated in 1968 |
| Architect / builder | Raphael Guastavino, Sr. & Jr. |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts interpretation of the Spanish Baroque |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church is still in active use; condition listed as excellent and altered (renovated). |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Downtown Asheville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.59750, -82.55632 (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 78001933.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4867387
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.