Clifton Park Center Baptist Church and Cemetery
Why it's listed
Clifton Park Center Baptist Church is a brick, gable-roofed meetinghouse built in 1837 on the north side of Clifton Park Center Road, surrounded on three sides by its cemetery. It is the second church on the site. The congregation traces to about 1794, when Revolutionary War veteran and weaver Abijah Peck moved to the area and founded a Baptist society. He was ordained in 1801, and the first, timber-framed meetinghouse followed on land he donated. The present building has a fieldstone foundation, locally made brick walls, a molded cornice with returns, and an interior with a balcony, wood pilasters and original open pews. It is described as a rare and largely intact example of vernacular Greek Revival church design in southern Saratoga County, now set among suburban development. The cemetery, begun about 1801, holds roughly 350 recorded burials, including Peck's grave behind the church, and illustrates early settlement and nineteenth-century gravestone styles.
Significance in brief: The property is significant for its link to the early settlement of Clifton Park and as a highly intact example of vernacular Greek Revival church architecture in southern Saratoga County. The congregation dates to about 1794 and grew from the lay ministry of Abijah Peck. The cemetery holds burials from the early nineteenth century and shows regional funerary art.
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 04001055, listed September 24, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 713 Clifton Park Center rd., Clifton Park Center |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | September 24, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001055 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1794-1892 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century Revivals/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility, with the cemetery contributing to the property. |
| Acreage | 13.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.85872, -73.83152 (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 04001055.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5133288
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.