Church of the Holy Transfiguration of Christ-on-the-Mount
Also known as: Episcopalian Chapel of Ease
Why it's listed
Perched at roughly 1,700 feet on Mead's Mountain Road near Woodstock, this small wood-frame chapel was built in 1891 by the Mead family, who ran a boardinghouse nearby. It served guests of Mead's Mountain House and the neighboring Overlook Mountain House as an Episcopal chapel of ease. The building rests on a fieldstone foundation and has clapboard and shingle siding, a steep gable roof, leaded-glass windows, and an open wood-truss ceiling. Rustic cedar-pole details mark the entrance porch. Its simple form recalls the parish-type church popularized for modest Episcopal congregations in the mid-nineteenth century. The chapel reflects the Catskills seasonal resort trade. It also connects to the Whitehead family, who acquired the land in 1902 as part of the Byrdcliffe art colony and later invited Father William Francis to lead services here. The interior was adapted for Western Rite Orthodox worship, though the original truss ceiling, entrance screen, and parts of the rood screen remain. The period of significance runs from 1891 to 1953.
Significance in brief: It is tied to the seasonal tourist industry of the Catskills through its link to Mead's Mountain House and the Overlook Mountain House. It is also associated with the Whitehead family, founders of the Byrdcliffe art colony, who brought Father William Francis to the chapel after World War II. Architecturally, it is a relatively intact seasonal chapel recalling the parish-type church, with rustic detailing.
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 05001385, listed December 9, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Mead's Mountain Rd., Woodstock |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | December 9, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001385 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic Revival; Other: Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The exterior has weathered and the woodwork shows considerable neglect, and the roof has deteriorated asphalt shingles. The building is still maintained by the Orthodox Church of the Western Rite, and its Section 6 current function is religious. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.06173, -74.12130 (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 05001385.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5117930
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.