Union Church and Burial Ground
Also known as: Old Mud Church
Why it's listed
Union Church is a small Gothic-style church in Philipsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, with an adjoining burial ground. Settlers raised a log meetinghouse on the site in 1820 by public subscription, and it served as both a school and a place of worship. In 1842 the log building was enlarged and remodelled into a church with pointed arch windows, quatrefoil carvings, and a three-story entrance tower. Its rough cast exterior of plaster and clay gave the church its nickname, Old Mud Church. The interior retains its original box pews, carved balustrade, flooring and window glass. The church is significant as a well preserved example of rural Gothic design in the area. It also reflects early settlement and a dispute over whether the building would serve one denomination or many, which was settled in court in favour of a union church used by several congregations. The cemetery, in use from 1819, contains a monument to Hardman Philips and a large oak estimated at 330 years old.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the remodelled 1842 building is an outstanding example of rural American Gothic architecture and one of the earliest Gothic style buildings in the area. It is described as remarkably well preserved, retaining virtually all of its original appointments. The church and adjoining burial ground are also cited as a landmark of early settlement and a monument to religious tolerance, since it was built as a union church for several denominations.
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 78002365, listed May 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E. Presqueisle St., Philipsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | May 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002365 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820-1842 |
| Architect / builder | William Kinnear and Samuel Turner (subscription agents named in the 1820 subscription list) |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained by the Philipsburg Historical Foundation; the interior appointments are described as original. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Philipsburg Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.89815, -78.21738 (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 78002365.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7885528
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.