Trinity Church
Why it's listed
Trinity Church is an Episcopal church complex on the northern edge of downtown Elmira, New York. The main church, built between 1855 and 1858 from designs by New York architect Henry Dudley, is a brick Gothic Revival building with brownstone trim, a slate roof, a long nave with clerestory, and a tall tower topped by an attenuated spire. Dudley designed many churches following Ecclesiological principles, and this one is unusual among his work for being brick rather than stone. East of the church stands the 1882 Arnot Memorial Chapel, designed by Richard M. Upjohn in a High Victorian mode with terra cotta banding, a sundial and a bell cote. A mid-1950s parish house in a simplified Tudor Revival style connects to the chapel. Inside the church, oak paneling, carved choir stalls, a marble and mosaic altar, and stained glass from the 1850s to the 1950s reflect early twentieth-century renovations. The complex was listed for its architecture and its record of changing church design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a well-preserved, distinctive example of mid-nineteenth century Gothic Revival church design, showing the hallmarks of Henry Dudley's Ecclesiological work. The later Arnot Memorial Chapel by Richard M. Upjohn and the 1950s parish house show how urban church architecture and needs changed over time. The complex is a downtown landmark and holds the only known local example of Upjohn's work.
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 07001122, listed October 31, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 304 N. Main St., Elmira |
|---|---|
| County | Chemung County |
| Listed | October 31, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07001122 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-ca 1957 |
| Architect / builder | Henry Dudley; Richard M. Upjohn; H.H. Bickford |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church complex remains in religious use. The interior of the Arnot Chapel is now used for utilitarian purposes and its liturgical furnishings have been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.09001, -76.80804 (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 07001122.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7842662
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.