St. John's Episcopal Church
Also known as: Bldg. #10
Why it's listed
St. John's Episcopal Church is a one-story frame church on Market Street in the village of Cape Vincent, Jefferson County. Built in 1841 for a congregation of 103 communicants from 69 families, it cost $3,100, and the land was donated by Otis P. Starkey. Its design follows the New England meeting house tradition: a three-bay by four-bay main block with a shallow gable roof and pediment, clapboard siding, and a three-story central tower topped by an eight-sided tin-sheathed spire. Inside, the sanctuary keeps its original cove ceiling with a plaster medallion, oak pews, wainscoting and moldings, along with late nineteenth-century stained glass and an oil chandelier. A side wing was remodeled in the 1970s. Behind the church, the parish cemetery holds graves from 1852 onward, including Otis Starkey and General Sacket. The church reflects the conservative taste of the New England-descended settlers and is still used for worship.
Significance in brief: It is an intact nineteenth-century frame church in the New England meeting house tradition, reflecting the origins of the American settlers who developed Cape Vincent. Its pedimented gable, tall three-stage tower and spire, and clapboard siding are typical of New England Neoclassical churches. The cemetery holds the graves of prominent local citizens and is exceptionally intact.
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 85002476, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Market St., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002476 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular religious building in the New England meeting house tradition, with late Federal style plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in active use by the Episcopal congregation; condition marked excellent; interior of main block intact, side wing remodeled in the 1970s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.12499, -76.33528 (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 85002476.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588672
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.