Baptist Church of Springville, The (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: Free Baptist Church of the Springville, First Baptist Church; of Springville, Springville Center for the Arts
No coordinates published for this listing.
Why it's listed
Built in 1869 for the Free Will Baptist congregation, this red brick church with limestone trim stands at 37 North Buffalo Street in Springville, near the village green and several other churches and civic buildings. Its Gothic Revival design includes crenellations, lancet windows, Tudor arches and an off-center bell tower. Cyrus K. Porter was the original architect. In 1913-14, after the First Baptist and Free Baptist congregations merged, the building was renovated to designs by F.L. Buckley. The work added an L-shaped narthex and a shed-roofed rear addition, repaired the north wall, and installed art glass windows and a pipe organ. The building holds twenty-nine stained glass windows and a Troy-cast bell. Further changes came in 1953, when a second floor and basement were added in the south wing. The congregation sold the property in 2005, and the sanctuary now serves as a theater. The church was listed for its architecture and its role in the village's social and religious history.
Significance in brief: The church is significant as a good example of Gothic Revival architecture and as an intact work of regional architect Cyrus K. Porter, with its off-center tower, Tudor arches and lancet windows. It also reflects the development of Springville's civic and religious center and its Baptist congregations, including the 1913 merger of two congregations.
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 100001583, listed September 11, 2017. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 37 N. Buffalo St., Springville |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | September 11, 2017 |
| Reference number | 100001583 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1869-1914 |
| Architect / builder | Cyrus K. Porter, architect, S.R. Smith, builder (1869); F.L. Buckley, architect, Lakeshore Construction, builder (1914); Booth Art Glass Works, stained glass (1913) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals / Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sold by the Baptist congregation in 2005 and now used as an auditorium/theater and gallery space; some interior materials are in storage awaiting restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
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 100001583.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.