Grace Episcopal Church Complex
Why it's listed
Grace Episcopal Church in Jamaica, Queens, is a rough-cut sandstone Gothic Revival church set in a landscaped churchyard of small tombstones. Dudley Field designed it in 1861-62, after fire destroyed the previous building on New Year's Day 1861. A tower with a buttressed base and octagonal broached spire stands beside the entrance, and pointed-arch windows alternate with stepped buttresses along the nave. The firm of Cady, Berg & See added the chancel in 1901-02, and Grace Memorial House, a Tudor Gothic brick parish house, followed in 1912. The parish dates to 1702 and is among the earliest Episcopal congregations in the country and the oldest on Long Island. Its first church was completed in 1734 on land deeded by the widow of Colonel Caleb Heathcote. The graveyard contains the burials of notable families, including Rufus King, a Federalist statesman, and his son Charles. The churchyard gives the site a rural character amid a busy commercial district.
Significance in brief: Grace Church is one of the first Episcopal parishes in the country and the oldest on Long Island, founded in 1702. The 1861-62 church by Dudley Field is an outstanding example of English County Gothic design, and the Cady, Berg & See chancel was added in 1901-02. The graveyard holds the remains of prominent New York families, including Rufus King.
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 83001771, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 15515 Jamaica Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Queens |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001771 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Dudley Field; Cady, Berg & See |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (English County Gothic); parish house in Tudor Gothic style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use. A recent fire damaged parts of the parish house interior but left the exterior unaffected. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.70412, -73.80166 (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 83001771.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5591154
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.