St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Historic church in Washington, D.C. Added to the National Register in 1976, and a National Historic Landmark.

What it is
St. Luke's Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church located at 1514 15th Street, N.W., in Washington, D.C. Completed in 1879, it is home to the oldest African-American Episcopal congregation in the city. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its association with Rev. Alexander Crummell (1819–1898), a leading figure advocating for black self-sufficiency and civil rights in the mid-19th century.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 15th and Church Sts., NW, Washington, DC |
| County | District of Columbia |
| Listed | May 11, 1976 |
| Listed for | Black heritage, Literature, Education, Social history |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 76002131 |
| Architect | Calvin Brent |
| Type of place | church building |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
| Standing | Yes |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 15th and Church Sts., NW, Washington, DC |
| Coordinates | 38.9102° N, 77.0349° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Washington | 675 listed places in Washington → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site · under a mile · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) 4 miles · Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas 5 miles · Greenbelt Park Ranger Station 9 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs








Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 8 records ↗
Map
Nearby in District of Columbia
Local history books for Washington
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Guidebooks to historic places in Washington, D.C.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was St. Luke's Episcopal Church listed on the National Register?
May 11, 1976. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Who designed St. Luke's Episcopal Church?
Calvin Brent.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit St. Luke's Episcopal Church?
Yes. St. Luke's Episcopal Church is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is St. Luke's Episcopal Church?
15th and Church Sts., NW, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia. The nearest national park unit is Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, under a mile away.
Source: Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
Are there historic photographs or drawings of St. Luke's Episcopal Church?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for St. Luke's Episcopal Church?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near St. Luke's Episcopal Church?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc), 4 miles away. Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas is 5 miles away, and Greenbelt Park Ranger Station is 9 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 76002131. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.