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Summary
Luther Memorial Church
1021 University Avenue, Madison, Dane County
Architects: Claude & Starck (church); Reginald Stehr (education building addition)
Date of Construction: 1923 (church); 1959 (education building addition)
Dedicated in 1923, Luther Memorial Church is an excellent example of the Neo-Gothic Revival style of architecture. In Wisconsin, Gothic architectural motifs have been utilized for churches for 150 years beginning with the popularity of the Gothic Revival style in the mid-nineteenth century. As the style evolved into the twentieth century, it was referred to as the Neo-Gothic Revival.
Luther Memorial Church was designed by the noted Madison architectural firm of Claude & Starck. The principles of the firm were Louis W. Claude, who served as the principal designer, and Edward F. Starck, the managing partner. Established in 1896, their partnership lasted until 1929, during which time they designed numerous residences, schools, banks, commercial buildings, factories, and many libraries. The firm was adept at executing designs in a variety of architectural styles.
In 1959, an education building addition containing administrative offices, pastor’s offices and Sunday school classrooms was constructed based on plans by Madison architect Reginald Stehr. Deferring to the architectural grandeur of the church, Stehr utilized Gothic characteristics in a complementary, yet restrained, manner in his design for the addition.
The Luther Memorial congregation has its origins in Madison in the early-twentieth century and, prior to the construction of Luther Memorial Church, worshipped in a chapel they built at 626 University Avenue. The first Lutheran church in the city with services exclusively in English, the congregation is also notable for its early outreach and mission to serve Lutheran students attending the University of Wisconsin. Luther Memorial Church continues as a thriving faith community to this day.
Property Details
| Criteria | Architecture/Engineering |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Architecture |
| Period of Significance | 1923,1959 |
| Architectural Style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Architect | Claude & Starck,Reginald Stehr |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Religious Facility,Church School |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 2 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Dec 1, 2017 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Mar 26, 2018 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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