St. George's Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1822-23 on Front Street in Hempstead, St. George's Church is a two-story wood-frame building sheathed in clapboard, with a slate gable roof and a projecting square tower topped by an octagonal belfry. Semi-circular-headed windows light the upper level, and the original box seats and columned galleries survive inside. The spire and weathervane came from the parish's previous church, where they had been in place since 1735. The congregation chose to build the new church about four rods east of the old one, and it was consecrated in September 1823 at a cost of more than $5,000. Timothy Clowes is credited with the design, William Rhodes served as head carpenter and Shepherd Lewis as chief mason. The chancel was extended in 1856, and later additions housed offices, a meeting hall and educational space. Once surrounded by open country, the church now stands in contrast to a densely populated community and has served worshippers continuously since it was built.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a simple yet striking example of early 19th-century ecclesiastical architecture and a significant landmark in the community and county. It is the third church built by the Hempstead parish, whose charter dates to 1735. It has served the community continuously since its construction.
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 73001211, listed March 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 319 Front St., Hempstead |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | March 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001211 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (1822-23) |
| Architect / builder | Design attributed to Timothy Clowes; William Rhodes, head carpenter; Shepherd Lewis, chief mason |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use as a church since its construction; additions of offices, a meeting hall and an educational facility were made in 1949 and 1958. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.70672, -73.62251 (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 73001211.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588131
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.