Christian Church of Gilroy
Why it's listed
Built in 1857, this modest 1½-story wooden church at 160 Fifth Street in Gilroy is described as a western adaptation of Greek Revival design. It has a three-bay front, a gable roof and a three-stage bell tower with scroll brackets and an original-looking bell from San Francisco. The congregation formed in 1855 and built the meeting house on land belonging to rancher Massey Thomas. Disputes over Mexican land grants forced the building to be moved a few blocks in August 1885, when a contractor renovated it and improved the tower. In 1859 it hosted a state gathering of the faith that drew about 1,000 people. The Christian Church is described as the first congregation in California to build its own meeting house, and the building is the oldest surviving one of its denomination in the state. After the original congregation closed in 1963, a Latin American Assemblies of God congregation bought it in 1967 and still uses it, with interior changes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest surviving meeting house built by the Christian denomination in California and the oldest ecclesiastical building in Gilroy. It has served as a church continuously since 1857. It is also described as an excellent western adaptation of Greek Revival architecture.
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 82002261, listed April 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 160 5th St., Gilroy |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Listed | April 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002261 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (western adaptation) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a church by a Latin American Assemblies of God congregation since 1967; described as in fair condition, altered, on mud sill foundations. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.00784, -121.57161 (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 82002261.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5109429
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.