Reformed Church on Staten Island
Why it's listed
At 54 Port Richmond Avenue in Port Richmond, Staten Island, a brick church built in 1844 anchors a complex that also includes an 1898 chapel and Sunday School addition and a cemetery. The original building is Greek Revival, with a portico of fluted Doric columns, brownstone details, an inset bell tower and a galleried sanctuary supported by Ionic columns. A 1905 opalescent glass memorial window of an angel sits behind the altar. The 1898 addition, designed in the Renaissance Revival style, is set back and lower than the church. Its central space is an Akron-plan Sunday School, polygonal in shape, with classroom galleries around an open floor, and it is topped by a twelve-sided clerestory. The congregation traces its roots to an earlier church of 1787, and Rev. Brownlee served as pastor for nearly sixty years. The church remains in religious use and is valued for its architecture and its role in local community life.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the church as a long-lived congregation whose 1844 building and 1898 addition reflect Staten Island's religious and community history. The 1844 church is a Greek Revival design, and the 1898 addition has an Akron-plan Sunday School, described as an outstanding example. The congregation's history includes nearly 60 years under Rev. Brownlee and expansion into the community, such as the Mariner's Harbor chapel.
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 04001533, listed January 20, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 54 Port Richmond Ave., Staten Island |
|---|---|
| County | Staten Island |
| Listed | January 20, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001533 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th century: Greek Revival; Late Victorian: Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Art, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church and Sunday school building with a cemetery; the 1844 church was altered in 1929 after a fire and in 1971 with a foyer infill. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.63970, -74.13240 (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 04001533.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7307497
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.