Christ Church
Also known as: Unitarian Univeralist Church; First Univeralist Church; of Middleton; Christ Church Univeralist
Why it's listed
Christ Church is a stone church with an offset bell tower and an attached frame parish house on Orchard Street at East Main Street in Middletown, New York. A Universalist congregation formed in 1896 and bought the property in 1897, including a two-story frame dwelling that became the parish house. Architect Frank J. Lindsey designed the church, the cornerstone was laid in October 1900, and it was dedicated on December 29, 1901. Its walls are grayish blue marble from Gouverneur, New York, laid as rough ashlar with smooth dressings and Florentine-arched openings. Inside, exposed wood roof trusses and memorial stained glass windows, several attributed to the studio of L.C. Tiffany, mark the worship space. A 1,300-pipe Austin organ replaced the original organ in 1922. The parish house, mid-19th-century in origin, has aluminum siding outside but retains Greek Revival and Italianate interior features. The property is recognized for its architecture, with significance spanning c. 1835 to 1922.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under architecture as a well-executed eclectic Gothic design by a prominent local architect, built of Gouverneur marble. It retains a largely intact interior with Tiffany-attributed memorial windows. The attached mid-19th-century parish house, a former dwelling, adds to the complex.
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 08000771, listed August 15, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Orchard St., Middletown |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | August 15, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000771 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1835-1922 |
| Architect / builder | Lindsey, Frank J, architect; Crane, Giles & Company, carpenters; Wagen & Sons, masons |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function are both religious facility; the worship space is largely intact to the early 20th century apart from 1980s pews and carpeting. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.44773, -74.41779 (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 08000771.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5108752
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.