St. Ann's Church Complex
Why it's listed
Set in a grassy, iron-fenced yard on St. Ann's Avenue, this Bronx parish complex centers on a small fieldstone church built in 1840. Gouverneur Morris erected it as a family memorial on a field that already held his parents' burial vault. The cruciform building combines simple Gothic Revival forms, with pointed-arch windows framed in brick, and a Greek Revival vernacular tower topped by an octagonal belfry and spire. Two fires in the late 1960s damaged the interior and tower, and the interior was later restored. A Gothic-style parish house was added in 1916, beside a Sunday school and gym building, and a graveyard with the Morris family crypt lies near the street. The church is called the oldest surviving church building in the Bronx. Its importance rests largely on the Morris family, who held land in the area from 1670 and gave Morrisania its name. Family members buried here include a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the statesman Gouverneur Morris. The church still serves as a parish church.
Significance in brief: The church is described as an outstanding example of a simple Gothic Revival parish church and the oldest surviving church building in the Bronx. It is nominated for national significance because of its ties to the Morris family, whose members contributed to the American Revolution and the early republic. The crypts and graveyard hold the remains of Morris family members, including a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Gouverneur Morris who helped frame the Constitution.
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 80002589, listed April 16, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 295 St. Ann's Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | April 16, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002589 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival with Greek Revival vernacular tower |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still serves as a parish church; the interior was restored after two fires in the late 1960s. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.80850, -73.91716 (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 80002589.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7586962
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.