Methodist Episcopal Church of Burlington
Also known as: Old Burlingotn Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1822 as a 30 by 45 foot frame church on a knoll west of Burlington Borough, the two-story building has a forward-facing gable, a fieldstone foundation, clapboard walls and a metal roof. Its facade has twin doors with fanlights and pilasters, and its windows retain 12-over-12 sashes, many with original glass. The interior is largely original, with pine woodwork, wainscoting and horsehair plaster, and it has never been painted. Its dominant feature is a graceful elevated octagonal pulpit set within a half-circular alcove, reached by curving stairs with delicate balusters. The church replaced two earlier log structures on land set aside in 1794 by James McKean. Its austere design reflects early Methodist building principles, and its survival with little alteration makes it a rare example of the period in the region. A cemetery with late eighteenth to early twentieth century stones borders the church on the north and west.
Significance in brief: The church is regarded as an exceptionally well preserved rural Protestant church from the early nineteenth century, one of the few in Bradford County or the region to survive from its first decades. Its austere exterior and unpainted interior, including an elevated octagonal pulpit, are presented as embodying the spartan character of early Methodist worship and the denomination's 1821 building guidance.
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 89002280, listed January 4, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | US 6 at Township Rd. 357, West Burlington |
|---|---|
| County | Bradford County |
| Listed | January 4, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002280 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1822 |
| Architect / builder | William McKean (pulpit; reputed to have supervised construction) |
| Architectural style | MID 19th Century - Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Document describes the church as a preserved building with a 1950 roof and late nineteenth-century porch, doors and shutters; current use is not stated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.77338, -76.63116 (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 89002280.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15253254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.