Stylistically influenced by Anglican church buildings of eighteenth-century Virginia, this is a two-story, symmetrical, red brick church. It is characterized by square-headed windows on the first floor, compass-headed windows on the second floor, and entrances on both gable-end walls. Interior finishes are restrained and simple. Six square columns support the balcony, which is accessed by stairs in the northeast and southeast corners of the church. In addition to Brush Creek, two similar churches for German Lutheran congregations were constructed nearby: Harrold Zion (1815) of stone and Bee Hive Church (1820) in Greensburg (both demolished). Deliberately choosing the name Salem, meaning “peace,” the church was originally built to house two separate denominations, German Lutherans and German Reformed. They held it jointly, if not always amicably, until 1958, when the Lutherans moved out. A large cemetery surrounds the present church.