Grace Episcopal Church
Also known as: Grace Church; Grace Church Waverly
Why it's listed
Grace Episcopal Church is a Gothic Revival wood-frame church completed in 1854 on Park Avenue in the Village of Waverly, Tioga County, New York. It has clapboard siding, a steeply pitched roof with a bracketed cornice, stained-glass lancet windows with drip molds, a gabled entrance portico and a wooden belfry. Inside, an exposed hammerbeam truss, a carved oak reredos and a pipe organ installed in 1895 survive. The building was raised three feet in 1907-08 to create an undercroft, and new oak pews were added in 1912. A Gothic Revival parsonage from 1874 and a small garage share the lot. The parish was organized in December 1853 as Waverly grew around the Erie Railroad. The church is described as the oldest in the Chemung Valley on its original site. It is valued as an example of mid-century Episcopal architecture and as evidence of the church's expansion across Central New York.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an excellent mid-19th-century Gothic Revival example reflecting the Episcopal Church's developing architectural program (Criterion C). It also documents the spread of the Episcopal Church and the growth of Waverly (Criterion A). It is described as the oldest church in the Chemung Valley on its original site.
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 00000878, listed August 2, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 445 Park Ave., Waverly |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | August 2, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000878 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854-ca. 1940s |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Mr. Washburne |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/ Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility; the form says an active parish continues today. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.00365, -76.53900 (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 00000878.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5591147
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.