St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
historic place
St. Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Austin, Travis County, has a history tied to its several locations. Pastor Henry Merz organized the congregation in 1883 with twenty German families. They initially worshipped in temporary spaces. The cornerstone for their first church building was laid on December 21, 1884, and it was dedicated on April 26, 1885. This brick church, in a modified Gothic style, was located at 106 East Peach Street, later 13th Street, near Capitol Square. In 1929, St. Martin's erected a second sanctuary at 1400 Congress Avenue. The original building became state offices. By 1959, the Capitol complex expanded, and both church buildings were razed. St. Martin's moved to its current facilities at 606 West 15th Street, dedicated on March 27, 1960. This current building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023. A historical marker for St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church was erected in 1979 by the Texas Historical Commission. The church's moves illustrate the impact of Austin's development and the state capitol's expansion.