Glen Wild Methodist Church
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Above the Neversink Valley, just north of Glen Wild in Sullivan County, New York, stands a small board and batten church built in 1867. The congregation was organized in 1866 as the Fletcher Centenary Church, bought the site for $200, and dedicated the building the following year at a recorded cost of $3,169.17. The frame building rests on a stone foundation and has false wooden buttresses, Gothic-arched windows, scroll-sawn finials, quatrefoil roundels, and a tower with belfry and steeple. Inside are beaded board wainscots and ceiling, a raised dais, simple pews, and electric fixtures from 1914. The design draws on the board and batten Gothic churches popularized by Richard Upjohn in the mid-1800s. Such churches were common in the Northeast by the 1850s and early 1860s, so this one is a late example, which the nomination attributes to its remote location. It is listed as one of the few known churches of its kind in the county. The church was sold in 1964 after membership declined.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is architecturally significant as one of the only known vernacular board and batten Gothic churches in Sullivan County. It is a late example of the type, and it keeps nearly all of its original exterior and interior features. It is also described as an exceptionally stylish vernacular building for its remote rural setting.
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 84003035, listed May 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Old Glen Wild Rd., Glen Wild |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | May 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003035 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1867 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular board and batten Gothic (Gothic Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied. A 1983 note says the structure is basically sound and needs exterior and interior restoration. The roof has been repaired and the steeple repainted white. The 1944 church hall is now a summer residence. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.66616, -74.58796 (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 84003035.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5568100
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.