First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Rising above the corner of South Hamilton and Cannon Streets in Poughkeepsie, this grey granite church is the third home of a Presbyterian congregation organized in the city as early as 1749, and the second on this site. Percival M. Lloyd of Poughkeepsie designed it in 1905, and construction ran until 1908 at a reported cost of $125,000. The style is Romanesque with Gothic Revival influence. A three-story square tower with a pyramidal roof marks the northeast corner, and the roofs are hipped and gabled with slate shingles. Arched windows, many with engaged columns and stained glass, and a triple-arch porch with short columns add to the exterior. Inside, a large rounded sanctuary has semicircular seating and elaborate painted and gilded decoration, while a smaller chapel has a classical interior. The building is regarded as one of Lloyd's finest works and remains in use as a church. Samuel F. B. Morse is listed among its prominent figures.
Significance in brief: It is a monumental Romanesque church with Gothic Revival influence that dominates the intersection of South Hamilton and Cannon Streets. It is the congregation's third building and the second on this site. The elaborately painted and gilded interior survives, and the building is considered one of architect Percival Lloyd's outstanding achievements.
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 82001136, listed November 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 25 S. Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | November 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001136 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Percival M. Lloyd of Poughkeepsie |
| Architectural style | Romanesque with Gothic Revival influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; condition given as good, with modern brick additions at the southwest rear corner. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.70114, -73.92443 (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 82001136.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453623
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.