Reinholds Station Trinity Chapel
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 in the village of Reinholds, West Cocalico Township, this one-and-one-half-story Sunday School chapel is constructed of irregularly coursed, rusticated native red-brown sandstone under a slate roof. Its front-gabled plan is thirty-two feet wide and fifty-two feet deep, and the south facade has a center entrance flanked by stained glass windows, with a steeple, belfry and fishscale slate spire on the gable end. The interior is a single room with a tin ceiling painted silver and bronze, original woodwork and traces of aquamarine wall paint. The deed, dated 1898, directed that the building serve the Lutheran and Reformed congregations of the village and be named Trinity Chapel. It was used as a union Sunday School until 1984. The nomination regards it as a rare and well-preserved example of late-nineteenth-century rural church architecture in Lancaster County, notable for its tripartite facade and stained glass interior. A local group raised funds to save it in 1987.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the chapel is a locally significant example of Late Gothic Revival church architecture of the late nineteenth century, with a tripartite front-gabled plan, stained glass windows, and a largely unchanged exterior and interior. It describes the building as rare in northeastern Lancaster County and as one of only four sandstone or brownstone Late Gothic Revival churches or chapels in the county. Its original tin ceiling, woodwork and aquamarine paint are cited as retained 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 90001412, listed September 5, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 114 E. Main St., Reinholds |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | September 5, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001412 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a Sunday School until 1984; after the closing the building was threatened in 1987, and a local group saved it; the present owners intend continued use as a non-denominational chapel. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.26587, -76.11220 (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 90001412.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7310388
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.