Church of the Holy Innocents
Also known as: Church of the Nativity of our Virgin Lady
Why it's listed
Set on a corner lot at North Pearl and Colonie Streets in Albany, this small church and its adjoining chapel form a compact complex that feels like an English country parish within the city. Architect Frank Wills designed the church in 1850 in the early Gothic Revival style, showing the influence of Pugin. It is built of coursed rubble masonry with Portland stone dressings and covered by steeply pitched slate roofs. Lumber baron William DeWitt gave the building as a memorial to his four children. It served as Albany's fifth Episcopal parish in what was then a fashionable neighborhood. The chapel followed in 1866 and a passageway in 1897. The principal stained glass windows were designed and made by John Bolton, a leading nineteenth-century glass craftsman, and they survive though they need repair. Since the late 1950s the buildings have housed a Russian Orthodox congregation, which added an onion dome, icons and screens.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an example of early Gothic Revival architecture, designed by Frank Wills and showing the influence of Pugin. Its principal stained glass windows were designed and made by John Bolton and are fairly rare examples from the first phase of the American Gothic Revival. The complex also creates a rural English church atmosphere within an urban setting and recalls the mid-nineteenth-century prosperity of the area.
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 78001836, listed January 31, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 275 N. Pearl St., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | January 31, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001836 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Frank Wills - church; Wollett and Ogden - chapel |
| Architectural style | Early Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use as a Russian Orthodox church, with alterations made in the late 1950s; the Bolton windows are extant but in need of repair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.65861, -73.74848 (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 78001836.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117908
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.