Peaceful Retreat

Phanuel Lutheran Church nestles in the countryside of southeast Fountain County like a jewel box—a picturesque little building tucked at the end of a shady gravel track, flanked by a rural cemetery and green hills.

After more than a century serving its congregation, the building is on the market, ready for a new owner to carry on its loving stewardship.

Built in 1917, the church is the fourth home of a congregation that settled the area near present-day Wallace in the 1820s. The group gathered in a barn and log structure before building a frame church in the 1850s. After fire caused by a lightning strike destroyed the building, the congregation erected the current Neoclassical church.

Like so many rural churches, the congregation at Phanuel Lutheran dwindled over in recent decades. Committed to the building’s preservation, trustees voted to donate the church to Indiana Landmarks along with approximately three acres of surrounding land. The congregation gathered for a final worship service in November of 2018 before transferring the building to us.

Designed by Crawfordsville architect George T. Griffith, the small Neoclassical structure features a pedimented entryway with stone columns. Inside, gothic-arched stained-glass windows flood the sanctuary with colorful light. The raised foundation design of the building allowed for double-hung basement windows, which provide ample natural light to a spacious lower level fellowship hall and kitchen. The lower level also contains restrooms and a mechanical room.

The building remains in good condition, though the new owner will need to install a new septic system and may want to install air conditioning.

With its special character and serene setting, the property is ideally suited for use as a unique family home, weekend retreat, or artist’s live-work studio.

The building is listed for $42,000 and will be sold with covenants protecting its historic exterior appearance. The interior can be reconfigured for an adaptive new use. See the property listing to learn more.

For more information, contact Tommy Kleckner, director of our Western Regional Office, 812-232-4534, tkleckner@indianalandmarks.org.