West Newark Congregational Church and Cemetery
Why it's listed
West Newark Congregational Church and its neighboring cemetery sit in the valley of the West Branch of Owego Creek in Newark Valley, New York. The wood-frame church was built in 1848 by carpenters Gilbert Hover and Deacon Reuben Chittenden, and it follows the Greek Revival style. Its west front resembles a temple, with four pilasters, a heavy cornice and a closed pediment, while a square bell tower rises from the roof ridge and carries carved or jigsaw-cut ornament. A shallow rear addition, probably from the early twentieth century, holds a raised pulpit. The cemetery, probably begun in the 1820s on land given by William Richardson, holds markers from 1830 onward, from incised slate tablets to later marble and granite stones. The congregation formed in 1823 and has always been small. Both properties were listed for their architectural and artistic value as intact, representative local examples, and the cemetery also for its age.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church and cemetery are intact, representative examples of religious buildings and cemeteries in Newark Valley, significant under Criterion C for architecture and art. The church is called an excellent local example of Greek Revival design, with a temple front and carved tower openings. The cemetery qualifies by age, with markers from 1830 to the present.
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 98000165, listed March 16, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of W. Creek Rd. and W. Newark Cross Rd., Newark Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | March 16, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000165 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1820-1920 |
| Architect / builder | Gilbert Hover, Reuben Chitterden |
| Architectural style | Mid-Nineteenth Century/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church, with weekly services in spring, summer and fall as of 1997; the cemetery is maintained by church members. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.24242, -76.23557 (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 98000165.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7986063
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.