Church of the Good Shepherd
Why it's listed
Beside Route 167 in the hamlet of Cullen, this small wood-frame chapel was built in 1892 by Dunham J. Crain as a memorial to his grandparents and to his wife's brother. It served the family's nearby estate, Cullenwood, which was later razed in 1960. Local craftsmen William Wainman, Jacob Salsman and John Brownrigg did the work. The chapel has a steep Gothic roof, a rectangular nave, and a separate square bell tower joined by a hyphen to the sacristy. Stained wood shingles reflect Queen Anne influence. Lancet, rose and cruciform windows hold stained glass, three of them memorials to Crain family members. Inside, exposed scissor trusses, beadboard ceiling sheathing, golden oak pews and polished brass furnishings survive intact. Bishop William C. Doane consecrated the church on May 20, 1898. Still used for summer Episcopal services, it was listed for its architecture and its exceptional integrity as a late, diminutive rural chapel.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a highly intact example of a late 19th-century rural frame family chapel. It blends English Gothic-inspired forms with Queen Anne materials such as stained wood shingles. The interior retains its original trusses, windows, oak furniture and brass fittings.
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 97000943, listed August 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 167, jct. of NY 167 and Earl St., Cullen |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | August 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000943 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1898 |
| Architect / builder | Local builder-craftsmen William Wainman, Jacob Salsman and John Brownrigg |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Gothic |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in limited seasonal use, with several services held each summer, under the Episcopal diocese. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.88248, -74.96291 (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 97000943.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117861
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.