Chapel of the Good Shepherd
Why it's listed
Built in 1888-1889 on Welfare Island in New York City, this small chapel is a one-story brick church set above a high basement. Its walls are laid in modified Flemish bond, with brownstone trim at the doors, windows and buttresses and a rock-faced ashlar basement. A stone tower with a broached spire rises beside a semicircular apse, and a plate-tracery rose window sits above the entrance vestibule. Frederick Clarke Withers, an English-born architect who came to the United States in 1852 at the invitation of Andrew Jackson Downing, designed it. He later worked with Calvert Vaux and published Church Architecture in 1873. Construction began in June 1888, funded by a gift from banker George Bliss. Set on an open site among trees, the chapel recalls an English parish church in Victorian Gothic dress. At the time of listing it was in good condition, though altered, and sat unused while restoration was awaited.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a work of Frederick Clarke Withers, an English-born architect who trained with Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux and wrote the 1873 book Church Architecture. It describes the chapel as a small building reminiscent of an English parish church, with Victorian Gothic detail. Its construction was funded by a gift from banker George Bliss.
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 72000865, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Welfare Island, New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000865 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1889 |
| Architect / builder | Frederick Clarke Withers (architect) |
| Architectural style | Victorian Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, on its original site, and unused pending restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.76187, -73.95014 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 72000865.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5073113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.