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House of worship, Eastern Market, since 1931

Trinity Lutheran Church

Still standing, photographed 2018

This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States..., 2018 Photo: Revdski3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1931
Style
Neo-Gothic
Standing
95 years

Designed by William E.N. Hunter

Trinity Lutheran Church has stood on Gratiot Ave. in Eastern Market since 1931, 95 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Trinity Lutheran Church

Drone shot of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit, 2017 Photo: Revdski3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 2017 Photo: Amaury Laporte, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Detail of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 2017 Photo: Amaury Laporte, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Under renovation

  • Alteration permit Exterior renovations (COMM.- ROOF) per documents & (HDC25-00718) (Subject to Field Approval.), estimated at $62,526 Source: City and county building permits
  • Standing and open Source: Historic Detroit

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

Trinity Lutheran Church opened in 1931, through the Depression years, when every new building in Detroit was a statement of faith.

William E.N. Hunter drew the plans, in the Neo-Gothic style.

The city protects it as part of Trinity Lutheran Church.

It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.

Go see it at 1345 Gratiot Ave. Photos never get the scale right.

Timeline

  1. 1931 Built Designed by William E.N. Hunter
  2. 1979 Protected by the city Trinity Lutheran Church
  3. 2025 Alteration permit December 15, 2025
  4. 2026 Today Under renovation

Where it is

1345 Gratiot Ave.

On this map

  1. Trinity Lutheran Church This place
  2. Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Complex 50 ft
  3. St. John's-St. Luke's Evangelical Church 490 ft
  4. Goebel Brewery 520 ft
  5. Stroh's Brewery 0.1 mi
  6. Wisner Confectionary Building 0.1 mi
  7. Nellie Leland School 0.2 mi
  8. Koenig Coal & Supply Co. Building 0.2 mi
  9. Eastern Market Historic District 0.2 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Second Baptist Church, by William E.N. Hunter Second Baptist Church, by William E.N. Hunter. Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

William E.N. Hunter

Architect, 1868 to 1947. Designed Second Baptist Church (1852) and 7 more in Metro Detroit

Also by William E.N. Hunter

More from Detroit in the 1930s

Around the block

It is in Eastern Market. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States..., 2018 Photo: Revdski3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Drone shot of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, Detroit, 2017 Photo: Revdski3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 2017 Photo: Amaury Laporte, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Detail of Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 2017 Photo: Amaury Laporte, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  5. The Historic Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan, United States, is listed on the US National Register of..., 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.