First Presbyterian Church
Also known as: "Old Whaler's Church"
Why it's listed
Built in 1843-1844 on Union Street in Sag Harbor, this Presbyterian church is known locally as the Old Whaler's Church. Designed by New York architect Minard Lafever, it is regarded as one of the most important Egyptian Revival buildings in the country. Its battered walls, tall slanted windows and pylon-like facade towers draw on ancient Egyptian temples, while Greek Revival ornament and cornice details shaped like whalers' blubber spades reflect the village's whaling economy. Inside, the sanctuary seats about 800, with box pews of Cuban mahogany brought back by whaling ships, a coffered ceiling hung without supporting columns, and a painted trompe l'oeil behind the pulpit. The organ by Henry Erben is the oldest in a Long Island church. A Memorial Chapel was added at the rear in 1899. The original 185-foot steeple was lost in the 1938 hurricane. A letter from a laborer on the project confirmed Lafever's authorship.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is one of the most important Egyptian Revival buildings in the United States, combining Egyptian forms with Greek Revival detail and whaling motifs such as blubber-spade cornice ornaments. It is a major work by the noted architect Minard Lafever, and a letter from a construction laborer firmly credits the design to him. It also reflects Sag Harbor's whaling prosperity in the 1840s.
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 94001194, listed April 19, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 44 Union St., Sag Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | April 19, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001194 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1843-1844 |
| Architect / builder | Minard Lafever (1798-1854) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Exotic Revival (Egyptian) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 19, 1994 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility; the original steeple was destroyed in the 1938 hurricane. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Sag Harbor Village District |
| Coordinates | 40.99730, -72.29367 (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 94001194.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085411
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.