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St. Peter's Church

New York, Manhattan, New York Listed Ref. 100012060 Building
St. Peter's Church, New York, New York
Photo: Chris06, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Why it's listed

St. Peter's Church stands at State and Lodge Streets in downtown Albany, New York, and is the congregation's third building on the site. The parish dates to 1704, when Queen Anne established a chapel for missionary work among the Onondagas. A church was built in 1715, one of the first Anglican churches north of New York City, and was replaced in 1803 by a design from architect Phillip Hooker. The present building, begun with a foundation stone laid on June 29, 1859, was designed by Richard Upjohn. Its walls are Schenectady blue-stone and New Jersey sandstone, with a slate gable roof, black walnut interior finish and a tower about 180 feet tall added in 1876. Stained glass includes the Weaver Window by Burne-Jones, made by the William Morris Company, and chancel windows by Clayton and Bell. A contemporary critic ranked it among Upjohn's most successful churches. It has been a place of worship for New York governors since colonial times.

Significance in brief: The church was designed by Richard Upjohn, architect of Trinity Church and St. Thomas Church in New York City, and is described as a significant architectural monument in downtown Albany. Apart from the vestry room and tower added in 1876, it follows his original designs. The congregation traces back to 1704 and has hosted New York governors from colonial times to the present.

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 100012060, listed August 4, 2025. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).

Key facts

Address619 Lexington Avenue, New York
CountyManhattan
ListedAugust 4, 2025
Reference number100012060
Resource typeBuilding
Period of significance1859
Architect / builderRichard Upjohn (architect); later materials also mention his son Richard M. Upjohn
Architectural styleModified basilican plan; later described as French Gothic design
Areas of significanceArchitecture, Art
Level of significanceNational, Local
Status (as stated in the nomination)Condition listed as good, occupied, in religious use; interior restoration began in 1964.
Acreage0.36
Coordinates40.75874, -73.97039 (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

Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.