Church of the Good Shepherd
Why it's listed
Church of the Good Shepherd is a small frame church on the Onondaga Reservation, about eight miles south of Syracuse. Its date of construction is unknown, and tradition suggests it was moved to the site in the early nineteenth century. The building was acquired from the Wesleyans, and in 1868 the Onondagas gave it to the Episcopal Church in exchange for mission status. Under a plan by Bishop Huntington, it was remodeled in 1869-70 with a chancel, robing and choir rooms, pointed-arch windows and board-and-batten siding, and it was consecrated in September 1870. A school room followed in the late 1870s, a rectory in 1879, and a mission hall in 1939. The church is valued as a vernacular building adapted with Gothic Revival features and as a reminder of nearly three centuries of Episcopal missionary work among Native Americans in central New York. Weekly services continue.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be an intact example of a vernacular building adapted for Episcopal worship with Gothic Revival features typical of the mid-nineteenth century. It is also significant for its link to Episcopal missionary work among the Onondaga and Native Americans in central New York, which began in the early eighteenth century.
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 97000113, listed May 8, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 11A, S of jct. with Webster Rd., Onondaga Reservation, Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | May 8, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000113 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1869-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Contractor "A. Russell" (possibly Syracuse architect Archimedes Russell); remodeling plan prepared by Bishop Huntington |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century / Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Native American |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Weekly services are still held in the church; the 1879 rectory is rented to Onondagas and its historic integrity is reduced by later additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.94515, -76.16149 (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 97000113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117867
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.