Setauket Presbyterian Church and Burial Ground
Also known as: First Presbyterian Church of Brookhaven
Why it's listed
On the east side of the village green in Setauket, a Federal-style Presbyterian church built in 1812 stands next to a burial ground begun around 1690. The church is a three-by-five bay building with a heavy timber frame, wood shingle siding, arched multi-paned windows and a central bell tower with a low octagonal spire. Inside, a vaulted plaster ceiling, gallery and Tuscan columns survive, though pews and chancel were changed in 1868 and the interior was restored in 1984-85. Later additions, including a 1958 education wing and a 1990 Fellowship Hall, sit to the north and are not counted as historic. The burial ground holds about 800 graves arranged by family plot, including the Floyd family and the painter William Sydney Mount. Many early markers were imported from New England and show winged death's heads, cherubs, and willow-and-urn designs. The property is valued for its architecture, its funerary art and its link to the town's early settlement.
Significance in brief: The church keeps its heavy timber frame, central tower, shingle siding and arched windows, along with many Federal-period finishes. The burial ground is significant for its age, its ties to Setauket's original settlers, and its gravestones showing funerary art across three centuries.
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 96001023, listed September 27, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5 Caroline Ave., Village of Setauket, Brookhaven |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 27, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001023 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1690-1946 |
| Architect / builder | William S. Satterly & Clark Tooker |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The church remains in religious use, and the burial ground is still a cemetery. A Christian Education Building, Fellowship Hall and manse have been added. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 40.94595, -73.11093 (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 96001023.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7456371
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.