Zion Episcopal Church
Also known as: Zion Church
Why it's listed
Zion Episcopal Church is a monumental Gothic Revival church at the corner of Main and Church Streets in the historic core of Palmyra, an Erie Canal village. Built in 1872 and completed in July 1873 for about $44,738, it was designed by Emlin T. Littell of New York City and built by the Warsaw Manufacturing Company. Walls of roughly hewn Medina sandstone carry limestone trim, polychrome slate roofs with iron cresting, buttresses, lancet windows and large rose windows filled with stained glass. A 125-foot tower with an octagonal spire anchors the composition. Inside, a tall nave and side aisles are spanned by exposed Gothic-arched wooden trusses, and the chancel and altar are elaborately panelled. Original pews and chancel furniture survive. The building replaced the congregation's first church, razed in 1872 during the canal era. Its high-style design, following English Ecclesiologist ideas, made it an outstanding local example of the Gothic Revival, and it remains an active church.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding example of Gothic Revival ecclesiastical architecture in the Finger Lakes Region. It cites the 125-foot tower and steeple, rose windows, notable stained glass, and an interior with exposed wooden trusses and an elaborate chancel. It follows the tradition of A.W.N. Pugin and the English Ecclesiologists.
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 100005921, listed December 21, 2020. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 55 Cedar St., Dobbs Ferry |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | December 21, 2020 |
| Reference number | 100005921 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1872 - 1921 |
| Architect / builder | Emlin T. Littell, NYC (architect); Warsaw Manufacturing Company of Warsaw (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a house of worship; described as a relatively vital church despite a smaller congregation. A modern non-contributing brick parish hall is attached. |
| Acreage | 1.87 |
| Coordinates | 41.01555, -73.87310 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 100005921.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.