English Church and Schoolhouse
Also known as: New Hempstead Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
At the New Hempstead crossroads, seven miles west of the Hudson River, stand a frame Presbyterian church built in 1827 and a small schoolhouse built in 1867. The church has a three-bay classical facade, a central double door and a shingled belfry spire. It keeps its original clapboarding and Federal detailing, and it was restored after a 1973 fire. A 1905 manse, a garage and a 1960 Sunday school annex share the grounds. The congregation traces its origin to 1734, when settlers from Hempstead, Long Island, formed the first English-speaking church in a mostly Dutch region. The present building is the third on the site and the second oldest surviving church in Rockland County. The schoolhouse was enlarged to two rooms in 1891 and still has ornate embossed tin walls and ceilings. It is described as the oldest public school building in continuous use in the county. Together the buildings mark the center of the early English community.
Significance in brief: The 1827 church is the third meeting house on the site and the second oldest surviving church building in Rockland County. It is described as the earliest surviving Federal-style church of its type in the county. The schoolhouse is called the oldest public school building in continuous use in the county and keeps an intact embossed tin interior from 1891. Together they are the main surviving resources of the first English community in the area.
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 77000980, listed November 23, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 484 New Hempstead Rd., New City |
|---|---|
| County | Rockland County |
| Listed | November 23, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000980 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1827 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church still in use as a sanctuary; schoolhouse leased from the school district and used as a privately run pre-school; condition marked excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 6.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.14985, -74.03240 (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 77000980.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7008629
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.