First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of North Main and Myrtle streets in Spencer, this brick church was completed in 1915 after fire destroyed the congregation's earlier building in 1911. It was designed in a restrained Gothic Revival style around an Akron plan, a type that combined an open auditorium with a Sunday school space that could be divided off by movable partitions. The design includes a corner entrance tower, a cross-gabled layout, curved pews facing a corner platform, and a choir and organ alcove. Its most celebrated feature is a set of fourteen opalescent stained-glass windows by Henry Keck of Syracuse, the first major commission of his newly established studio. Replacement of the roof in 1961 removed the original parapets and the crenellated tower top, weakening the Gothic Revival character of the exterior. The interior arrangement and windows remain largely unaltered, which is why the building is valued as an intact example of its type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a distinctive, highly intact example of an Akron plan church, a type favored by Presbyterian congregations. It also holds a collection of fourteen stained-glass windows by Henry Keck, his first independent commission after founding his own studio in 1913. A 1961 roof replacement compromised its Gothic Revival style, but its form, massing and interior plan remain intact.
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 05001392, listed December 7, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 75-77 N. Main St., Spencer |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | December 7, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001392 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-15 |
| Architect / builder | Barber [first name unknown], architect; Carl Vorhis, builder; Henry Keck, stained glass |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The congregation still uses the building for religious purposes; the Sunday school wing is used for meetings and other activities. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.21389, -76.49216 (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 05001392.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453638
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.