Old Peace Lutheran Church
Also known as: Old Gahanna Sactuary
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on North High Street in Gahanna, this one-story brick church was the second home of the Peace Lutheran congregation, organized by German settlers in 1838. It was constructed with bricks from the first church at a cost of roughly $10,000, and church records name no architect or contractor. Gothic Revival details include Tudor arched stained glass windows, stone-capped buttresses and a three-story corner tower with steeply pitched dormers and a conical roof topped by a finial. Some windows carry etched German or English phrases, reflecting separate German and English congregations that shared the building until about 1917. A parish hall designed by local architect Ralph Clotts was added in 1938-1939. The congregation moved to a new building in 1963, and a non-profit group formed in 1980 to restore the church, which now serves as a community center. It was listed for its architecture, as the only Gothic Revival church in Gahanna.
Significance in brief: It is nominated for architectural significance as an excellent, well-preserved example of Gothic Revival religious architecture. It is described as the only such example in Gahanna. Its three-story corner bell tower, Tudor arched stained glass windows and buttresses are the defining features.
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 87000640, listed April 23, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 78--82 N. High St., Gahanna |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 23, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000640 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Church: Unknown; Addition: Clotts, Ralph |
| Architectural style | Gothic (Gothic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a community center for a variety of groups and activities; restored and preserved by a non-profit community organization formed in 1980. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.02892, -82.17440 (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 87000640.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138332924
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.