First Congregational Church of Madrid
Also known as: United Church of Madrid
Why it's listed
Located on the corner of Main and Cross streets in the hamlet of Madrid, this church and its neighboring parsonage serve the United Church of Madrid. The congregation traces to 1807, making it the first Congregational society in St. Lawrence County. A stone church built in 1825-26 burned in 1889, and the present frame building went up in 1890 to designs by Ogdensburg architect James P. Johnston. It combines Queen Anne and Stick/Eastlake references, including an asymmetrical form, a square entry tower with a belfry, tall stained glass windows and a nave with an Akron-plan layout. Original beadboard, coffered ceilings and wood pews survive inside. Some stickwork was removed in the 1920s, vinyl siding was added in 1974, and a Sunday School wing was built that year after the Congregational and Methodist congregations merged. The parsonage retains elaborate Eastlake porch ornament. The property was listed for its architecture and for the church's long role in local social life.
Significance in brief: The church is significant in Architecture as a largely intact example of late-Victorian ecclesiastical design, with Stick/Eastlake ornament, asymmetrical massing, a square corner tower and varied surface finishes. In Social History, it served as the spiritual and social center of the oldest Congregational society in St. Lawrence County, organized in 1807, and played a substantial role in the community's growth.
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 10000914, listed November 10, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Cross St; 32 Main St, Madrid |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | November 10, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000914 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Johnston, James P. Architect |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Stick/Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Building in generally good condition; stained glass windows need repair. Still in use as the United Church of Madrid, with a congregation formed by merger in 1974. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.75264, -75.13087 (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 10000914.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7887599
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.