St. Stephen's Church
Why it's listed
St. Stephen's Church is a wood-framed Episcopal church on Oxford Street in New Hartford, Oneida County, begun in 1825 with financial support from Judge Jedediah Sanger and probably built to the specifications of master builder N. Caulkins. Its Federal form is combined with Gothic details, including a triple lancet window with an ogee-arched surround, a two-stage tower with an octagonal belfry, and fleur-de-lys ornaments. Inside, clustered columns and simple vaulting are the earliest known interior Gothic references in the Diocese of Central New York. A recessed chancel was added in 1868, and a parish house followed in 1912 and later years. The Greek Revival rectory, dated 1850, stands to the south. The church was the fifth Episcopal church built in Oneida County and reflects the denomination's growth as settlement spread along new roads and the Erie Canal. It is still in active use today.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a largely intact example of Federal ecclesiastical design with well-developed Gothic detail typical of early nineteenth-century Episcopal churches in central New York. Its interior Gothic clustered columns and vaulting are described as the earliest known interior medieval references in the Diocese. It is also tied to the growth of the Episcopal Church and settlement in the area after new roads and the Erie Canal opened.
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 96000959, listed August 30, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 22--27 Oxford St., New Hartford |
|---|---|
| County | Oneida County |
| Listed | August 30, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000959 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1825 - 1912 |
| Architect / builder | Probably master builder N. Caulkins |
| Architectural style | Federal; Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in active use as a church serving a suburban population; the exterior was vinyl-sided in 1980. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 43.07157, -75.28629 (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 96000959.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7591749
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.