Church of the Resurrection
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Why it's listed
Church of the Resurrection is an Episcopal church on the corner of 118th Street and 85th Avenue in Kew Gardens, part of Richmond Hill, Queens. It began as the first organized religious body in the area, and a small Gothic Revival board-and-batten chapel designed by Henry Dudley opened in 1874. In 1904 architect Nathaniel W. Vickers enclosed that wooden building within a much larger structure of rough quarry-faced stone, with a half-timbered and stucco front gable, a copper-clad bell tower and a tall nave seating about 400. The 1874 cornerstone remains inside the narthex. Later additions include Cummings Hall in 1923 and the Lady Chapel in 1944. A Queen Anne rectory from 1888 sits on the property. The church is also linked to Jacob Riis, the reformer and photographer, who lived nearby and was a parishioner from 1900 to 1912. A memorial window for his wife, Elisabeth Riis, is in the north aisle. His house no longer stands.
Significance in brief: The church is argued to be an outstanding example of early twentieth-century Episcopal design in Tudor Revival and Late Gothic Revival styles, by architect Nathaniel W. Vickers. It is also tied to Jacob A. Riis, the social reformer, photographer and writer, who worshipped here from 1900 to 1912. It is described as the only remaining building in Richmond Hill that represents his productive years.
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 03000090, listed March 7, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 85-09 118th St., Kew Gardens, Borough of Queens |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | March 7, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000090 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904-1944 |
| Architect / builder | Nathaniel W. Vickers (Collin & Vickers) for the 1904 expansion; Henry Dudley, architect, and Abraham Van Dien, contractor, for the 1874 church; Niles Pederson for the 1888 rectory |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne (rectory); Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Tudor Revival/Late Gothic Revival (church) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church is described as in good condition with no structural deterioration. The rectory is unoccupied and in general disrepair, with peeling siding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.88227, -73.82960 (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 03000090.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5118037
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.