St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church occupies the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and East 127th Street in Harlem. Built of pinkish-grey, rock-faced Connecticut granite, it combines a tall nave, transepts, a gabled entrance with Scotch marble columns, and a 125-foot clock tower topped by a slate spire. Architect Henry M. Congdon designed it in 1872 for a congregation organized in 1829, the oldest Episcopal congregation in Harlem. It opened in 1873 on a site near Fourth Avenue. In 1889-90 Congdon was rehired to dismantle and rebuild it at the present location, reversing its orientation and enlarging the nave, chancel, aisles and transepts. The interior keeps its nineteenth-century character, including an open timber roof, a wrought-iron rood screen, original oak pews and stained glass. Over time the congregation became largely West Indian and Black. The church is noted for its architecture and for still being used by its founding society.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest buildings in Harlem and among the most beautiful High Victorian Gothic churches in New York City. It is the work of church architect Henry M. Congdon, with a picturesque tower and a sumptuous interior that survives largely intact. It is also the oldest Episcopal congregation in Harlem and one of few Protestant churches there still used by its founding society.
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 80002717, listed March 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2067 5th Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | March 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002717 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1872-73; 1889-90 |
| Architect / builder | Henry M. Congdon |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a church; described as remaining in an excellent state of repair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.80774, -73.94218 (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 80002717.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7586863
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.