First Free Will Baptist Church of Pike
Also known as: Pike Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1881 on Main Street in the village of Pike, this L-shaped brick church was dedicated in 1882 for a Free Will Baptist congregation that had moved to the village from Eagle Valley in 1859. Pastor J. H. Durkee guided construction of a design copied from a church he had overseen in Phoenix, New York; the builder or designer was never recorded. The building follows the rural English Gothic model, with a single asymmetrical bell tower, pointed-arch windows with brick lintels, corner buttresses and leaded glass windows with stained glass borders. Inside, an auditorium-style sanctuary holds pews, chairs and a pulpit made around 1882 by local furniture makers Kellogg and Crary. A baptistery was added in 1917 and a kitchen wing in 1926, while the steeple was removed in 1963. It is considered significant for its architecture and as the last surviving historic religious building in Pike, still serving as a church.
Significance in brief: The church is significant under Criterion C in architecture as a representative late nineteenth century Gothic Revival church. It is also the last surviving historic religious building in the small rural community of Pike. It retains a high degree of integrity despite the 1963 removal of its steeple.
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 12000369, listed June 27, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 72 Main St., Pike |
|---|---|
| County | Wyoming County |
| Listed | June 27, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000369 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881-1926 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the steeple was removed in 1963 and the building retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.55674, -78.15602 (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 12000369.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453035
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.