Old First Reformed Church
Why it's listed
Old First Reformed Church occupies the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street in Brooklyn's Park Slope, rising above surrounding three- and four-story buildings. Designed by Brooklyn architect George L. Morse and built between 1888 and 1891, it is faced in Salem, Indiana limestone on a granite base. Its 212-foot tower and spire was one of only three such stone spires in Brooklyn when completed. Rose windows, triple lancet windows, buttresses and a stone porte-cochere mark the exterior. Inside, an amphitheater-style sanctuary has coffered barrel vaults, scagliola colonettes, stained glass by several firms including Tiffany, and a mural, The Empty Tomb, by Virgilio Tojetti. Surfaces are richly painted in a manner inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement. The building is the fifth home of a congregation founded in 1666 and was recognized for its architecture and its remarkably intact exterior and interior. The chapel and a 1931 kitchen wing are included.
Significance in brief: The church is significant under Criterion C in architecture as a good representative example of late Gothic Revival religious architecture in Brooklyn. It has a 212-foot stone tower and spire, an elaborately decorated Arts and Crafts-inspired interior, and is remarkably intact inside and out. It is the fifth building of a congregation dating to 1666.
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 98000316, listed April 1, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 729 Carroll St., Brooklyn |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | April 1, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000316 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Morse, George L. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The congregation remains very active and is committed to long-term preservation of the building; it is still used as a church. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Park Slope Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.67348, -73.97649 (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 98000316.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7083989
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.