Linlithgo Reformed Church of Livingston
Why it's listed
Set well back from the road on a slight rise in the crossroads hamlet of Livingston, this brick church was built in 1854-55 and replaced an earlier congregation building from 1814. It has a medium-pitched gable roof, a deep bracketed cornice, brick pilasters and a semi-engaged square bell tower with an unusual circular window in a stylized daisy pattern. Inside, a high second-floor sanctuary keeps its original pews, plaster walls, a Palladian-style wood feature behind the pulpit, a small balcony and a pipe organ installed in 1917. The architect is unknown, though a local builder, Nathan Proper, may have done the work. A spire was removed within a few years because it was unstable, and a rear addition was made around 1940. A cemetery with several hundred burials from about 1814 to the present lies beside the church. It was listed for its architecture as a well-preserved rural example of the Italianate style, and it remains a landmark in the hamlet.
Significance in brief: The church is significant in architecture as an intact, representative example of mid-nineteenth-century rural vernacular religious architecture in Columbia County. It shows typical Italianate features such as a deep bracketed cornice, long paired windows and simple molded woodwork. The cemetery adds to its rural setting, and the church is a landmark in the small hamlet.
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 05001614, listed February 1, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 447 Church Rd., Livingston |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | February 1, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001614 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1814-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; local builder Nathan Proper is mentioned in church records and may have been the builder |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church with its cemetery; the exterior and interior are described as highly intact. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 42.14458, -73.77623 (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 05001614.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706792
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.