Emanuel United Church of Christ
Also known as: Emanuel Reformed Church
Why it's listed
Built in brick in 1913 to a design by Wilmington architect Henry E. Bonitz, this church on East Main Street in Lincolnton is a Late Gothic Revival building with a four-stage corner tower, lancet-arched windows, and cement-capped buttresses. Its red-orange brickwork uses an unusual bond of stretcher courses alternating with Flemish bond. The congregation traces its origins to the 1780s, when Lutheran and Reformed members shared a union church, and it was revived after a fire destroyed that building in 1893. The church was completed in time for Christmas Day 1913. A Sunday school wing was added in 1931. Lightning caused a fire in April 1991 that destroyed much of the roof, and the building was restored with the interior woodwork and beam ceiling replicated from surviving elements. Its significance rests on its architectural design as one of the county's early late Gothic Revival churches, and on its role in the local Reformed Church.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a small but impressive example of late Gothic Revival design in Lincolnton and Lincoln County, designed by Wilmington architect Henry E. Bonitz. It is presented as the first of four important late Gothic Revival churches built in the county seat between 1913 and 1941, and as the first and only church built solely by the Emanuel Reformed congregation, whose history reaches back to the 1780s.
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 94001453, listed December 14, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 329 E. Main St., Lincolnton |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Listed | December 14, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001453 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Bonitz, Henry E. (architect); Beam, James L., Jr. (architect, restoration); Howard Construction Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored after a 1991 lightning fire; first services in the restored church were held in 1992. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.47287, -81.25287 (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 94001453.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5369157
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.