Salem Union Church and Cemetery
Also known as: Salem Lutheran Church; Salem United Church of Christ
Why it's listed
Salem Union Church and Cemetery occupies a 4.3-acre tract southwest of Maiden in Lincoln County, North Carolina, in an agricultural area now seeing suburban development. The brick church began as a simple rectangular sanctuary built in 1849. A remodeling in 1914-1915 added a corner tower and changed the openings to lancet arches, giving the building a late Gothic Revival character. A two-story Sunday School addition followed in 1936-1937, and a fellowship hall was added in 1989, creating an H-shaped plan. A brick well shed from about 1928 also contributes. The cemetery, in use from about 1792, holds roughly 484 markers, including work signed by a South Carolina carver. The property matters as a long-surviving union church, shared by Lutheran and Reformed congregations, a form that lasted longer in Lincoln County than elsewhere in the Piedmont. The congregations' traditional founding date is 1796, and records begin in the 1810s.
Significance in brief: The property is significant as a surviving union church, shared by Lutheran and Reformed (now United Church of Christ) congregations, a tradition that lasted longer in Lincoln County than elsewhere in the Piedmont. The cemetery holds markers from the late eighteenth century to the present. The church records trace the congregations to a traditional founding date of 1796.
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 95001118, listed October 4, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of NC 1005 (Startown Rd.) and NC 1274 (Maiden--Salem Rd.), SE corner, Maiden |
|---|---|
| County | Lincoln County |
| Listed | October 4, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001118 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Religion, European |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church and cemetery are described as well maintained, with the lawn mowed regularly; the church remains a place of worship and burial. |
| Acreage | 4.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.54768, -81.26480 (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 95001118.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7404229
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.