Beyond the Theater District’s dazzling lights stands Saint Luke’s Evangelical Church a beacon of faith. The church is located on Restaurant Row at 308 West 46th Street. It stands between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Founded in 1850 as a Dutch Reformed congregation, Saint Luke’s initially met in rented rooms. These were on the third floor of a building on 35th Street and 9th Avenue.
But how did Saint Luke’s Evangelical Church become Lutheran? In 1853, it reorganized. It joined the New York Ministerium. In 1859, it took the name The German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of St. Luke’s. The church moved several times before finding its current home.
Saint Luke’s Evangelical Church acquired its first owned building in 1863. This was a former Baptist church on 43rd Street. In 1875, it moved to 233 West 42nd Street. The congregation acquired property on West 46th Street to construct its current church. The cornerstone was laid in October 1922. The church was dedicated in September 1923.
Imagine services conducted in German until 1937. This reflected the ethnic makeup of its congregation. For many years, Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse held a Bible class here on Monday evenings. He was pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. His class lasted until his death in 1960.
Saint Luke’s Evangelical Church remained independent of synodical affiliation since 1880. It joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1987. Playhouse 46 at St. Luke’s, formerly St. Luke’s Theatre, is located on the church’s premises.
The architecture of Saint Luke’s Evangelical Church is a happy marriage. It combines Gothic Revival and Art Deco styles. Edward L. Tilton of Tilton & Githens designed the church. Francis Xavier Zettler designed the facade of the nave. A four-story parish house was built in 1922. Francis Keally designed it. It cost $150000.
Saint Luke’s Evangelical Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society holds records from Saint Luke’s. These include baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, and church minutes.
Today, Saint Luke’s Evangelical Church remains open for worship. It offers Sunday services in both English and Spanish. The church has a soup kitchen. It serves hot meals every Tuesday and Thursday. Saint Luke’s is a community called together by Christ. It celebrates passionate faith and seeks to inspire creative service. The church welcomes all who are seeking God’s love.