First Presbyterian Church
Also known as: Congregational Society of Brockport
Why it's listed
Built in 1852-53 on State Street in the historic core of Brockport, this Greek Revival church is a red brick building on a raised fieldstone basement, with sandstone and limestone trim, double pilasters between the bays, and a three-stage tower topped by a spire. A gabled vestibule added in 1901 reuses the original Corinthian columns. Inside, the sanctuary follows the Protestant meeting house plan, with a three-sided gallery on fluted Doric columns and a coffered ceiling. An 1891-92 remodeling moved the organ and choir behind the pulpit, and the main windows were reglazed in 1942. The church replaced a smaller brick building of 1830-31 and reflects the prosperity of the Erie Canal village. For generations it was the largest public meeting space in town, hosting an 1857 anti-slavery lecture by Cassius M. Clay, Civil War recruitment and rallies, temperance meetings, and the 1859 founding meeting of the local YMCA. It remains in religious use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is architecturally significant as a largely intact Greek Revival church with a columned entrance, moulded cornices and a multi-stage tower and spire. It also reflects the growth and prosperity of the Erie Canal village and shows changing tastes in church design through later alterations. It long served as the village's largest place of public assembly.
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 99000752, listed June 25, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 35 State St., Brockport |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | June 25, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000752 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1852-1942 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century / Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use; the form notes a high level of architectural integrity, though decorative scroll brackets on the tower drum were removed due to deterioration. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Within district | Park Avenue and State Street Historic District |
| Coordinates | 43.21461, -77.93712 (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 99000752.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453541
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.