St. Barnabas Epicopal Church
Also known as: New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on Fifth Avenue in Troy's North Central neighborhood, this red brick church replaced a smaller chapel and was originally St. Barnabas Episcopal. Trimmed with Lake Superior red sandstone, it has a cruciform plan, an open bell tower at the crossing, a corner turret, buttressed walls, and double lancet stained glass windows. Rose windows light the interior, which also keeps its original pews, carved doors and an 1895 Steere & Son organ. A former rectory and a carved stone crucifixion on the lawn complete the property. The church is valued as an intact, representative example of Late Gothic Revival design, scaled modestly to fit its two-story neighbors. It served a working-class area whose residents often worked in Troy's collar and shirt factories, and its rector, George A. Holbrook, served from 1891 to 1940. Despite some deterioration, it has seen no major alterations. The architect remains unidentified.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is architecturally significant under Criterion C as an intact, representative example of Late Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture in Troy. Its steep roofs, pointed arch and tracery windows, buttresses and asymmetrical plan express the style. It also served a working-class neighborhood of collar and shirt industry laborers, with a long-serving rector, George A. Holbrook, from 1891 to 1940.
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 03001517, listed January 28, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2900 Fifth Ave., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | January 28, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03001517 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition with moderate deterioration of exterior brick and stained glass from deferred maintenance and recent vacancy; the church has recently re-opened as New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, and the former rectory is used as a mental health facility. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.74614, -73.68247 (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 03001517.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7587225
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.