Bloomingburg Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
Why it's listed
Perched on Gillen's Hill at the western edge of Bloomingburg, this timber-framed church was built in 1821-22 for a Dutch Reformed congregation that split from an earlier Presbyterian group. Peter Weller, a founding elder, and carpenter George Miller are credited with building it. Clapboard-sided and set on a fieldstone foundation, it has fanlights over three front entrances and a tall eighty-foot tower topped by octagonal belfry stages, a design that appears to derive from an Asher Benjamin pattern book. Inside are galleries, a choir loft and pressed-metal ceilings. Later changes include Italianate brackets under the eaves, added before 1885, and an altar moved to the rear in the 1860s. It is considered one of the oldest surviving churches in Sullivan County and the only one there with such Federal detailing. The county bought it in 1972, and a local restoration foundation has been repairing it for use as a museum and cultural center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a notable example of early nineteenth century church architecture and one of the oldest surviving churches in Sullivan County. It is the only one in the county with this Federal style detailing. Its eighty-foot steeple appears to derive from an Asher Benjamin design, and it has long been a local landmark.
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 80002779, listed January 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 17M, Bloomingburg |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | January 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002779 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Peter Weller and George Miller |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Sullivan County since 1972; being restored by the Bloomingburg Restoration Foundation for use as a regional cultural museum and cultural center. Vandalized during years of neglect before restoration began in 1975. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.55593, -74.44248 (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 80002779.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4928300
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.