Christ Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Christ Episcopal Church is a red brick church complex at Broadway and Elizabeth Streets in Tarrytown, New York. Organized in 1836 as the village's first Episcopal church, it grew into a group of three buildings: the church, a rectory added in 1875 and a parish hall built in 1898, along with an iron fence. The church began as a plain Gothic building with some Greek Revival details. It was reworked in 1857, 1868 and 1896, gaining a recessed chancel, transepts, a taller castellated tower and an oak-finished interior. Those changes record shifting nineteenth-century ideas about proper church design, including the Ecclesiological and Aesthetic movements. The church also has a literary connection. Washington Irving joined the congregation in 1848, served on the vestry until his death in 1859, and his pew and a memorial to him remain inside. Visitors came to see the church because of him. The buildings remain largely intact and are still in use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is a distinguished example of nineteenth-century ecclesiastical architecture in the Hudson Valley, showing the early Gothic Revival in America and the later influence of the Ecclesiological and Aesthetic movements. It is also significant for its association with author Washington Irving, who was a vestry member and worshipped there. The complex remains largely intact from its 1836-1898 period of significance.
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 87000658, listed April 23, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Broadway and Elizabeth Sts., Tarrytown |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | April 23, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000658 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1836-1898 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (contractors Hall & Boyce built the 1836 church; Seth and James Bird, contractor and architect, carried out the 1868 renovation) |
| Architectural style | English Gothic / Tudor motifs; Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Literature, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a church, in excellent condition; the yard serves a church-sponsored day care center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.07503, -73.85923 (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 87000658.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.