National Historic Landmark · Washington, District of Columbia

St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Historic church in Washington, D.C. Added to the National Register in 1976, and a National Historic Landmark.

St. Luke's Episcopal Church 2
Photos via Wikimedia Commons · 1 in the Commons category

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 typeBuilding
Address15th and Church Sts., NW, Washington, DC
CountyDistrict of Columbia
ListedMay 11, 1976
Listed forBlack heritage, Literature, Education, Social history
Level of significanceNational
Reference number76002131
ArchitectCalvin Brent
Type of placechurch building
DesignationsNational Historic Landmark
Contributing resources1 building
StandingYes

The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗

Visiting

Address15th and Church Sts., NW, Washington, DC
Coordinates38.9102° N, 77.0349° W · Directions ↗
Also in Washington675 listed places in Washington → · walking tours →
Nearest national park unitMary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site · under a mile · on Park Atlas
Federal campgrounds nearbyRock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas (Dc) 4 miles · Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas 5 miles · Greenbelt Park Ranger Station 9 miles
This one you can go inside. Hours and admission change with the season; the website above has the current schedule.

Explore

Map

Local history books for Washington

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Distilled in Washington
    Becky Garrison and Charles Finkel, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Radical Suffragist in Washington, D. C
    Shirley Marshall, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • George Washington in the French and Indian War
    Scott C. Patchan, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Black Civil War Veterans in Washington State
    Cynthia Wilson, 2024
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Native American History of Washington, DC
    Armand Lione, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org

Guidebooks to historic places in Washington, D.C.

  • Walking Washington, DC
    Barbara Noe Kennedy and Lisa Walker, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • DC by Metro
    Michelle Goldchain, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Black Men Built the Capitol
    Jesse Holland, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Walking Tour of the Georgetown
    Richard Massimo and Missy Janes, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org

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.