Church of St. John the Evangelist
Why it's listed
Set among trees, ferns and shrubs on Philadelphia Hill Road in Hunter, this small Episcopal church was built in 1885 as a summer chapel for a seasonal community of Philadelphia families. Alexander Hemsley, who ran the nearby Blythewood boarding house, set aside the 1.5-acre lot in 1884 and hired his future son-in-law, architect William Halsey Wood, to design it. Summer residents raised the construction funds, with substantial gifts from the Hemsleys. The building combines fieldstone walls, a light wood frame and narrow boards set at varied angles in panels, giving it a Stick Style appearance. A square belfry with a pyramidal roof rises from the ridge, and the interior has a barrel-vaulted ceiling of matchstick boards and original Victorian wood chairs. Wood is best known for his competition design for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. The church survives largely unaltered, with a burial ground beside it, and is regarded as a local landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an outstanding regional example of late nineteenth-century eclectic Victorian church architecture, designed by noted architect William Halsey Wood. It was built to serve the seasonal community of Philadelphia Hill and remains virtually intact with its woodland setting. It is also described as a local landmark and a reminder of the Hemsley family and the enclave.
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 04000352, listed April 21, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Philadelphia Hill Rd., Hunter |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | April 21, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000352 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885 |
| Architect / builder | William Halsey Wood |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Stick Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as virtually intact and still in use as a church; the floor of the north wing has collapsed. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.18239, -74.14765 (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 04000352.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117259
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.