St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Why it's listed
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church occupies the corner of Broad and Mulberry Streets in Lancaster, Ohio, in a mainly residential area near the central business district. Its cornerstone was laid in 1879 and the building was dedicated in 1882. Built of four course American bond brick on an ashlar sandstone foundation, it has two square towers flanking a central entrance, with the taller west tower topped by a pyramidal roof, octagonal spire and Latin cross. Contrasting brick and sandstone in the arches, buttress caps and first story create a polychrome effect, and the cornice carries quatrefoil carving. Inside, the altar and pulpit are hand carved and highlighted in gold leaf, and the stained glass is well preserved. The congregation was organized in 1816, and this is its fourth church, after a log building and two brick ones. A two story rear addition was completed in 1925. As the tallest structure in town, the church is a well known local landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine, nearly intact example of nineteenth century Gothic Revival architecture in Lancaster. Its polychrome effect from combined brick and sandstone, carved cornice, stained glass and detailed interior furnishings add to its architectural value. As the tallest structure in Lancaster, it is also an important local landmark.
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 79001831, listed April 16, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Broad and Mullberry Sts., Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfield County |
| Listed | April 16, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001831 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in religious use; the interior is described as in excellent condition and the church as well maintained and nearly intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Lancaster Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.71657, -82.60145 (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 79001831.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.