Read time: 5 min.

I’m proud to serve on the Delaware County Historical Society board, where I wear a few different hats by editing our quarterly and heading out to share stories. Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to speak at the historic Richwood Evangelical Lutheran Church at Cross Roads. As Delaware County’s second-oldest rural church, the building is rich with history and character. I’d driven past it many times over the years, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to learn more about it.

Tucked into the northeast corner of Cross Roads, Richwood Evangelical Lutheran Church stands as a reminder of Salem Township’s early roots. The village of Cross Roads emerged in the early 1800s at the junction of County Roads 700-South and 600-West, once where the Muncie-Middletown and Yoktown-Honey Creek Pikes crossed paths. A store appeared in the 1830s and struggled to survive¹, but the Moffett Brothers found better luck with their own shop later in the decade². By 1887, the hamlet had gained recognition as a post office community home to a handful of residences, a Salem Township schoolhouse, and the Richwood Church³. The post office closed in 1895⁴, followed by another known as “Crossroads⁵” six years later. Today, little but the church remains.

Cross Roads’ earliest settlers worshipped at Richwood Presbyterian-Lutheran Church, founded in 1841 in nearby Henry County. Seven years later, Lutheran minister Samuel Saylor moved to Delaware County and acquired a vast tract of land in town. Over time, he became the leader of the Henry County congregation and, in the 1850s, established a Sunday School at the Cross Roads schoolhouse. Saylor passed away in 1865, but his widow offered to donate land for the congregation to relocate and build a permanent house of worship⁶.

Work on the new Richwood Evangelical Lutheran Church began in 1868 and the structure was dedicated the following year. Built by Joe Shoemaker and Garret Hopper for $2,900, the church originally measured 36 by 48 feet. It features a classic single-story brick design with a southern entryway and bell tower. Facing 700-South, the building’s gabled front showcases a central entrance flanked by striking Gothic Revival windows. Elsewhere, double-hung examples are framed by brick pointed arch rowlock surrounds, with wooden sills, sashes, and casements⁷. A stone plaque set within the church’s gable proudly marks its history, reading: “Richwood E Lutheran Church 1868.”

Cross Road’s Lutheran Church was the heart of the tiny town. Over the years, the congregation fostered a thriving community by hosting a women’s society, a Ladies Aid Society, the “Young People’s Band,” and even an orchestra⁸! In 1915, the church underwent a major $3,300 renovation to accommodate its growing prominence. Updates included new carpets and pews, an entry vestibule, and nine glorious stained glass windows crafted by the Anderson Art Glass Company. To better serve its congregation, a classroom and kitchen were also added to the building’s northern side⁹.

Unfortunately, the community of Cross Roads began to dwindle. The church felt the impact. A remodel in the 1940s kept it updated, but in 1967, the congregation amended its constitution by renaming the building the First Lutheran Church of Cross Roads. By 1977, decreasing membership meant relying on a part-time pastor to keep the congregation alive¹⁰. The arrangement worked for two more decades, but the church at Cross Roads closed its doors in 1999 after its pastor retired. More than a century of history came to a quiet end. 

Today, the 157-year-old Cross Roads Church is maintained through the dedication of the Crossroads Lutheran Church Historical Preservation Society. Although it’s no longer an active place of worship, the society has worked tirelessly to preserve the building’s legacy to ensure that the historic landmark remains a place where history can be shared and celebrated. From its stained glass windows and belfry to its past as a cornerstone of Cross Roads, the old RIchwood Evangelical Lutheran Church continues to connect people to the area’s heritage.

I was honored that the Preservation Society welcomed the Delaware County Historical Society to host our latest Lost & Found presentation. Sharing local history in a space that has stood for generations made the evening even better! We had a great turnout, and I had fun answering every question that came my way. Still, the true highlight was standing in the church’s 150-year-old sanctuary, where so many once gathered for worship, fellowship, and music. My evening at Cross Roads reminded me that history isn’t just something we study. It’s something we live.

Sources Cited
1 Kemper, G. W. H. (1908). Education in Delaware County. In A Twentieth Century History of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume 1. book, Lewis Publishing Company.
2 Flook, C. (2019). Lost Towns of Delaware County, Indiana. The History Press [Charleston]. book.
3 Griffing, B. N. (1887). Mt. Pleasant Township. An atlas of Delaware County, Indiana . map, Philadelphia, PA; Griffing, Gordon, & Company.
4 “Delaware County”. Jim Forte Postal History. Web. Retrieved 12/31/21.
5 (See footnote 4). 
6 National Register of Historic Places, Richwood Evangelical Lutheran Church, Middletown, Delaware County, Indiana. National Register #04001314.
7 (See footnote 6). 
8 Hamilton, L. (1998). First Luterhan Church of Cross Roads, Sesquicentennial 1998. Book. 
9 (See footnote 6). 
10 (see footnote 6).