St. Elmo Presbyterian Church was organized on August 31, 1889, with 33 members as a mission church of the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga. The organizing pastor was Dr. Robert W. Carter. Dr. Jonathan Bachman preached the first sermon, and Rev. T.H. McCallie presided over the first communion service and the installation of officers on September 1, 1889. On April 7, 1889, the Chattanooga Times reported that "a large force of hands" was at work constructing "one of the most fancy church edifices in the Chattanooga area." Its architecture demonstrates decorative elements borrowed from the Queen Anne and Eastlake styles and is considered the "most outstanding Eastlake building in Chattanooga." Notable architectural features include an irregular asymmetrical appearance, a gabled roof with finials, and elaborate and varied exterior wood trim treatments with surface ornamentation. In 1997, the church received a preservation award from Cornerstones, Inc. for its work toward preserving this important building.