Chapel Hill Bible Church
Also known as: Amity Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Chapel Hill Bible Church, formerly Amity Baptist Church, is a small wood-frame church on a rise of land southwest of Marlboro in Ulster County, surrounded by apple orchards and open fields. It began as a chapel in the Amity Baptist Church complex on 54th Street in New York City, probably built around 1860 with board-and-batten siding, Gothic detailing and a small bell tower. In 1905 the chapel was dismantled, carried by railroad and rebuilt near Bingham Road under the direction of Reverend Leighton Williams, whose father had been the congregation's first pastor. In 1914 transepts were added, along with heating and electric lighting, and the exterior was probably re-covered in cedar shingles. The building is listed for its architecture: a modest, fairly intact example of mid-nineteenth-century Gothic Revival design that was moved and enlarged for new use. Inside, a Greek Revival lectern, a memorial plaque and the original 1902 boiler survive.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion C at the local level as a representative example of nineteenth-century religious design that was relocated and enlarged for contemporary use in the early twentieth century. It remains a relatively intact, modest example of Picturesque Gothic Revival design, with early twentieth-century additions. A Greek Revival lectern, likely from the congregation's earlier Amity Street church, adds interest.
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 04001450, listed January 7, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 49 Bingham Rd., Marlboro |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | January 7, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001450 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1904-1914 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use as the Chapel Hill Bible Church; the form describes it as relatively intact. |
| Acreage | 12.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.58666, -73.99460 (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 04001450.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1062670
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.