St. George's Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Rising on the west side of Stuyvesant Square in Manhattan, St. George's Episcopal Church is a brownstone Romanesque complex of church, chapel and parsonage designed by Blesch and Edlitz. The cornerstone was laid in 1846, services began in 1848, and the building was finished in 1856. A fire in 1865 destroyed part of it, and it was rebuilt to the original plan and reopened in 1867. The spires were declared unsafe and removed in 1889. The church is remembered for its link to Harry T. Burleigh, born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1866. He won the baritone soloist post in 1894 and held it for fifty-two years. There he developed his career as a composer and arranger, and his settings of spirituals such as Deep River brought the music to concert audiences. The congregation supported his annual vesper program of spirituals. The church was recognized for this association with Afro-American musical history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant for its association with Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949), who was soloist at the church for more than 40 years. Burleigh was a composer, arranger and singer who brought the Negro spiritual to classical concert audiences. The church is also described as a fine example of Romanesque architecture.
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 76001249, listed December 8, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3rd Ave. and E. 16th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | December 8, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001249 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1948 at St. George's |
| Architect / builder | Blesch and Edlitz |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Black, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained in very good condition; exterior and interior restored in 1964 and chapel restored in the mid-1960s, though the congregation has dwindled and economic reverses are a concern. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.73439, -73.98504 (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 76001249.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2811842
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.