St. Helena Catholic Church
Why it's listed
St. Helena Catholic Church stands at the northwest corner of Oak and Tainter Streets and is designed like an English Medieval parish church, with a front tower and an attached nave without transepts. The tower is Perpendicular Gothic with crenellations, the windows are tall lancets, and the roof is open timber in a Jacobean manner. The land was donated in 1865, and a wood church that earlier occupied the site burned before 1889. The present local stone building was constructed under Father Renatus Becker, who served as both architect and contractor, at a cost of $9,000. A 1945 fire gutted the interior but spared the original stained glass; the restoration lengthened the tower, enlarged the narthex, added sacristies and seven buttresses, using matching stone. The nomination values it as the best remaining stone church in Napa County and the only entirely stone one, reflecting the valley's stone-building tradition and community regard.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that stone building was the characteristic early architecture of the Napa Valley, and that this church is the best surviving example of a stone church and the only entirely stone church left in the county. It has been a local landmark since completion, and the community broadly supported its recent restoration.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000726, listed May 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Oak and Tainter Sts., St. Helena |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | May 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000726 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Father Renatus Becker (architect and contractor); 1945 restoration by architect Martin Rist |
| Architectural style | English Medieval parish church style with Perpendicular Gothic tower and Jacobean open timber roof |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and occupied, in religious use; the form notes a 1970s reconditioning of the exterior stonework. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.50360, -122.47022 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000726.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588309
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.