St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Old
Also known as: St. Gabriel's 1801 Chapel
Why it's listed
Built in 1801 in Douglassville, Berks County, Old Saint Gabriel's is a two-story church of brownstone, laid in a herringbone pattern on its main facades. The nomination notes that this masonry technique was seldom used in stone construction because it was difficult to lay up the walls, and it is possibly the earliest building of its kind in Pennsylvania. The church is attributed to a local mason. Its exterior has large brownstone quoins, a simple cornice, and round-headed stone lintels with keystones over its windows and doors. The interior was altered several times over its first century of use, then restored from 1960 to 1962, when galleries, the arched ceiling, and a rebuilt north stairway were brought back to their early form. The wineglass pulpit, pews, and altar rail were handcrafted by William A. Griffith from old descriptions. The site is linked to Swedish settlers, an earlier log church, and a burial ground.
Significance in brief: The church is noted for its herringbone-patterned stonework, a masonry style the nomination says is seldom used in stone construction. It is described as possibly the earliest building in the state done in this style. The interior was restored to its early appearance in the 1960s.
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 78002343, listed March 8, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 422, Douglassville |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | March 8, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002343 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1801 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its early appearance in 1962 after restoration work begun in 1960. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.25721, -75.72893 (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 78002343.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.