First United Methodist Church
Also known as: Chester Hill Methodist Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Standing at the top of Chester Hill at East Lincoln Avenue and Summit Street, this granite church in Mount Vernon was built in 1900-01 for the Chester Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. New York architect George W. Kramer designed it, and the firm of Dawson & Archer, whose members belonged to the congregation, built it. Limestone details, a red slate roof with intersecting gables, an octagonal conical entrance tower and an 85-foot bell and clock tower give it a picturesque Richardsonian Romanesque character. Inside, a semi-circular auditorium with a wraparound balcony and a domed ceiling lit by a stained glass oculus follows the Akron Plan, in which sliding doors joined the sanctuary to the Sunday school chapel. A Sunday school wing was added in 1935 with little effect on the original structure. The church took its present name after a 1967 merger of two Methodist congregations. It was listed for its architecture and its link to Kramer, a prolific church designer.
Significance in brief: It is an architecturally significant, late Victorian example of Romanesque Revival church design, specifically the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It is a handsome, spacious example of the Akron Plan, a layout often credited to its architect, George W. Kramer. The 1935 Sunday school wing had little impact on the original building, which retains most of its original fabric.
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 99001656, listed January 7, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 226 E. Lincoln Ave., Mount Vernon |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | January 7, 2000 |
| Reference number | 99001656 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1935 |
| Architect / builder | George W. Kramer (architect); Dawson & Archer (builders) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Two congregations currently use the building, which remains in religious use; the stained glass oculus was recently restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.91837, -73.82940 (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 99001656.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5454003
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.