Church of the Holy Comforter
Why it's listed
Perched above the North/South Arterial in Poughkeepsie, this small Episcopal church at 13 Davies Street was built after meetings in 1854-55 and 1858 under the auspices of Christ Church. Its cornerstone was laid on October 25, 1860. Richard Upjohn of New York City, described as the foremost Gothic Revival architect of his period, designed it, and his plans are preserved at Columbia University's Avery Library. The cruciform building has smoothly dressed Hudson Valley bluestone walls, red sandstone trim, a tower, an octagonal apse and a steep roof of banded red, green and yellow slates. Inside, the original pews remain, along with a vaulted ceiling on carpenter Gothic wooden ribs and original stained glass. The apse ceiling is painted deep blue with gold stars. Highway clearance in the 1960s revealed the church to view for the first time in many years, and it now sits harmoniously among nearby Victorian houses. The form lists its condition as excellent and unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a notable work by Richard Upjohn, described as the foremost Gothic Revival architect of his period. It is an example of his mid-1800s work in the Hudson Valley. Clearing for the North/South Arterial in 1965 exposed the church to public view again, and its delicate details and intimate scale blend with the surrounding Victorian houses.
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 72000831, listed April 13, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 13 Davies St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | April 13, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000831 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1860) |
| Architect / builder | Richard Upjohn of New York City |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and unaltered, on its original site; occupied and used for religious purposes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Mill Street-North Clover Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.70621, -73.93661 (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 72000831.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117883
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.