First Presbyterian Church Complex
Also known as: United Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Rising at the corner of Church Street and Central Avenue in Cortland, this church complex centers on a large limestone church built in 1889-1890 to designs by New York City architect Samuel Burrage Reed. Its asymmetrical Gothic façade features a steeply pitched gable with tall pointed windows, a multi-stage bell tower, and a smaller turret. Inside, the worship space follows a circular auditorium plan, with curved pews, a semicircular gallery and a stained glass skylight. Beside the church stands a Queen Anne manse from 1903, designed by George Conable and faced in Roman brick. A two-story church house added in 1922 reflects a restrained Late Gothic style, while a 1958 Sunday School addition is not counted as contributing. The property was listed for its architecture. It is an intact example of late nineteenth-century Gothic church design and a cohesive record of the city's oldest congregation, which was founded in 1825.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an intact and distinctive example of Late Victorian religious design, with an eclectic Gothic exterior and a highly intact circular auditorium reflecting late nineteenth-century church planning. The church, church house and manse together form a cohesive group recalling the growth and prosperity of the city's oldest congregation.
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 02000142, listed March 6, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 23 Church St., Cortland |
|---|---|
| County | Cortland County |
| Listed | March 6, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000142 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889-1922 |
| Architect / builder | Reed, Samuel Burrage (church); Conable, George (manse); Hopkins, L.R. (contractor); Crabtree, William (stonemason) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic, Queen Anne; 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, as listed in the current function of the property. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.59912, -76.17765 (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 02000142.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453659
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.