Pentacostal Holy Temple Church of Jesus Christ
Also known as: The Free Baptist Church
Why it's listed
This red brick church at 351 Division Street in northeast Elmira was built around 1882 for a Free Baptist congregation. The cornerstone was laid in 1882 and the building was dedicated in 1883 as the Benton Street Free Baptist Church. In 1964, after a community religious survey, the Baptist and Congregational groups chose to build a larger church and sold the building to the Pentecostal Holy Temple Church, which still uses it. The Gothic Revival design has a steep gable roof, a tall corner tower with a pyramidal roof, buttresses, stained glass windows and an unusual triangular window above the entrance. Horizontal bands of contrasting brick on the front facade reflect the High Victorian Gothic phase and are described as a rare detail. The church was listed for its architecture as a representative example of late nineteenth century religious buildings in small New York cities. It has suffered neglect and roof problems, but its historic floor plan largely survives.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a representative example of late nineteenth century church architecture found in small cities across central and western New York. Its form, details, materials and finishes show Gothic Revival characteristics, including a rare polychrome brick pattern from the High Victorian Gothic phase. It also reflects Elmira's growth and prosperity in the later nineteenth century.
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 98001387, listed November 19, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 351 Division St., Elmira |
|---|---|
| County | Chemung County |
| Listed | November 19, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001387 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1882 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals / Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use. The form reports decades of neglect that caused severe structural problems in the roof system, though the interior retains sufficient integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10736, -76.80829 (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 98001387.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7165122
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.