St. Peter Church
Also known as: Sta-55-11
Why it's listed
St. Peter Church is a brick Gothic Revival church on Cleveland Avenue N.W. in Canton, Ohio, just north of the downtown commercial district. Built in 1875-79 on a stone foundation, it measures 74 by 164 feet. A tall central tower with battlements, flanked by smaller towers, dominates the west front, where a compound Gothic arch entry sits beneath a large pointed-arch stained glass window and a rose window. Inside, vaulted ceilings rise on clustered columns, and marble altars, mosaics and Munich-made stained glass and statuary decorate the interior. The exterior was stuccoed in 1919 to resemble cut stone, and a conical steeple and cross were added in 1944. The church was listed for its architecture. It is judged one of the two or three most elaborate and fully developed Gothic Revival buildings in Canton, more elaborate than several other local Gothic Revival churches. The architect or builder is recorded as Engelhardt.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under Criterion C for architecture, as an outstanding example of Gothic Revival design in Canton. It cites the buttresses, central tower, flanking towers, compound Gothic arch entry, lancet windows, and vaulted interior. It is described as one of the two or three most exuberant and highly developed Gothic Revival buildings in the city.
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 90000472, listed March 22, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 720 Cleveland Ave., NW., Canton |
|---|---|
| County | Stark County |
| Listed | March 22, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000472 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1875-79 |
| Architect / builder | Engelhardt |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church (current function: religious structure). Exterior was stuccoed in 1919 and a steeple was added in 1944. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Upper Downtown Canton Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 40.80383, -81.37457 (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 90000472.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591307
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.