Richmondville United Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Standing at the center of Richmondville on a slight rise along Main Street, this Methodist church was built in 1900 at a cost of $5,500, replacing an 1866 building on the same site. Beside it is a two-story parsonage the congregation built in 1893. The church has a steep gable roof, a fieldstone foundation, an engaged corner tower with an open belfry holding the original bell, and Gothic arched windows with leaded opalescent stained glass. Inside, the sanctuary has curved wood pews, a sloping floor, and walls and ceiling covered in varnished beaded wainscot laid in a herringbone pattern. A pipe organ was added in 1913. Vinyl siding in 1991 and a 1960 rear parish hall wing altered the property, but it keeps enough integrity to represent turn-of-the-century village church design. It was listed for its architecture and its role as a local landmark and community center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a substantially intact, representative example of vernacular Protestant church architecture in rural Schoharie County around 1900. Its Gothic arched windows, engaged corner entrance/bell tower, opalescent stained glass and finely crafted varnished wood sanctuary sheathing are cited. It also remains a prominent landmark at the village center.
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 06000575, listed July 14, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 266 Main St., Richmondville |
|---|---|
| County | Schoharie County |
| Listed | July 14, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000575 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893-1900 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th Century: vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; vinyl siding was added in 1991 and a rear parish hall wing in 1960. |
| Coordinates | 42.63475, -74.56507 (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 06000575.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7331074
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.