Christ Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Christ Episcopal Church stands at 41 Gardiner Place in Walton, a village on the West Branch of the Delaware River. Built in 1832 and attributed to local builder Riley Smith, the wood-frame church blends a Federal-period meetinghouse shape with Gothic Revival details, including lancet-arched windows and a central tower topped by a tracery-decorated wooden belfry. Its design was patterned on St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Bainbridge. In 1883 the building was moved back about twenty feet for road widening, received stained-glass windows, and gained a distinct chancel. A 1961 fire destroyed the roof and damaged the tower and interior, leading to repairs and a Victorian-style Gothic interior with exposed trusses and mahogany paneling. The property also includes an 1853 rectory, enlarged in the 1880s into a two-and-a-half-story Victorian house, and a 1964 parish house addition. The church is valued for its intact early exterior and its record of changing Episcopal church design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a distinctive example of nineteenth-century ecclesiastical architecture in Walton. It combines a Federal-period meetinghouse form with Gothic Revival features such as lancet-arched openings and a belfry tower. It also shows later changes: an 1883 remodeling and move, and interior finishes from after a 1961 fire that recall Victorian Gothic Revival decoration. The rectory incorporates an original mid-nineteenth century house into a larger Victorian building.
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 99000563, listed May 18, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 41 Gardiner Pl., Walton |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | May 18, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000563 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1834-c1883 |
| Architect / builder | Riley Smith, builder |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility, with the rectory in domestic use; the interior largely reflects restoration after a 1961 fire, and the roof and tower were restored in 1990. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.16981, -75.12872 (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 99000563.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5108890
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.