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Saint Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) located at the intersection of Barr and Madison Streets in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It belongs to the Indiana District of the LCMS, and has a long history. The congregation has existed since 1837. It is the second oldest Lutheran church in Indiana and the largest Lutheran church in the nation. In 1839, the first small church for this congregation was built at the present location.
Ever since this first simple edifice was built, the congregation has maintained a house of worship on this spot, evermore enlarging its facilities to meet the demands of the growing membership. Thus, a second church building was provided in 1847, which building, however, soon became inadequate, making an addition necessary in 1862. Though two daughter congregations branched off to form new parishes during the next two decades, it again became necessary to provide more ample facilities."
On September 15, 1889, a large cathedral was erected. On December 3, 1903, there was a fire that left it in ruins. They began building it back up again, and in April of 1905 they had gotten it back to its former glory. During the late 1940s it underwent renovation. Then it had modern improvements and enhancements as time went on. This grand cathedral still exists today, along with the elementary school that accompanies it.[1]
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
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