First Presbyterian Church of Highland Falls
Why it's listed
Blue granite forms the walls of this church at 140 Main Street in Highland Falls. Frederick Clarke Withers designed it in 1868. The gable-roofed nave has a narthex at the east end, with a square tower on the south side that has a steeply pitched hipped roof, corbeled cornice and lancet windows. The entrance has recessed columns with foliated capitals and a pediment with a date panel, and a circular stained glass window sits in the east gable. Six pairs of lancet windows, divided by buttresses, line the north and south sides. The congregation was the first incorporated in Highland Falls, in 1830. The Reverend Edward Payson Roe, later a noted novelist, led it when the church was built, using money raised through lectures and donations. An earlier plan by Wycliff and Baldwin was paid for but never used. The building remains in original condition and is the only Withers work in the survey area.
Significance in brief: It is presented as an outstanding example of rural nineteenth-century church architecture by the noted church architect Frederick Clarke Withers, and the only example of his work in the survey area. It also housed the first church congregation incorporated in Highland Falls (1830) and was built under the Rev. Edward Payson Roe, later a noted novelist.
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 82001216, listed November 23, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 140 Main St., Highland Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | November 23, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001216 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Frederick Clarke Withers; builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Romanesque; mid-19th-century ecclesiastical architecture |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; stated to remain in its original condition on its original site, with no known threats. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.37193, -73.96479 (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 82001216.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7888254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.