Sea and Land Church
Also known as: Northeast Dutch Reformed Church
Why it's listed
Sea and Land Church is a gabled stone church on Henry Street on Manhattan's lower east side, measuring 67 by 81 feet. Dedicated in 1819 as the Northeast Reformed Dutch Church, it stands on land deeded by Colonel Henry Rutgers in 1816. Its dark ashlar walls, brownstone trim and low square bell cupola give it a restrained look, while its pointed arched windows and doors show an early taste for Gothic forms within a late Federal and Georgian framework. It is counted among eight Georgian-style churches left in Manhattan, and its exterior has not changed since 1819. The building later served a Presbyterian congregation for retired seamen and took part in the growth of the Henry Street Settlement, a major social welfare effort. Although the interior has been heavily altered, a horseshoe gallery, an altar piece and the barrel-vaulted ceiling survive. A Chinese Presbyterian congregation now uses the church.
Significance in brief: It combines late Federal and Georgian massing with early pointed Gothic windows, and is one of eight Georgian-style churches remaining in Manhattan. Its exterior has been unaltered since 1819, unlike similar churches. The congregation also took an active role in the development of Lillian Wald's Henry Street Settlement and the late nineteenth century social welfare movement.
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 80002716, listed April 9, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 61 Henry St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | April 9, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002716 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Late Federal / Georgian with early Gothic Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied by a Chinese Presbyterian congregation; exterior intact but brownstone surrounds are deteriorated and the interior has been extensively stripped and modified. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Two Bridges Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.71299, -73.99471 (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 80002716.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q584395
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.