Christian Church
Also known as: Fitches Bridge Church
Why it's listed
Set on a slight rise beside NY 10 in East Delhi, this small wood-frame church was dedicated in September 1860 and is attributed to James Adams, a carpenter from nearby Hamden. Its core is a typical mid-nineteenth-century meeting house with a rectangular plan, gable roof, clapboard siding and classical entrance, but twelve narrow engaged towers with pinnacles give it a bold Gothic Revival appearance. Whether the towers were original or added later remains unresolved. The land was leased in 1822 by Judge Gideon Frisbee to the Christian Church congregation for a house of worship and burial ground. The congregation used the building until 1925, and services resumed in 1940. Christian Scientists occupied it from 1950 and made reversible alterations. A cemetery with markers from 1820 to 1975 and a double privy are part of the property. It was listed for its architecture and its link to local social history, and is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its unusual blend of Greek Revival form and assertive Gothic Revival decoration, notably twelve engaged towers with pinnacles. It is also tied to the early settlement of East Delhi and to land set aside by Gideon Frisbee in 1822 for a Christian Church congregation and burial ground.
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 01000250, listed March 12, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 10, East Delhi |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | March 12, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000250 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861 |
| Architect / builder | James Adams, builder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival/Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant; the property was returned in 1990 to the Delaware County Historical Association by the Christian Scientists who used it from 1950. The privy is intact but deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.29908, -74.87868 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 01000250.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5109427
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.