First Unitarian Church (Additional Data)
Why it's listed
Built in 1882 on the northwest corner of 22nd and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia, the First Unitarian Church is an Eclectic Victorian Gothic building of rustic stone with a steep hipped tile roof. A massive tower with a porte cochere passes through its first story, and the roof carries four elaborated shed dormers and decorative tilework along the ridge. The south facade has a five-bay enclosed stone porch, a rose window set in an arched recess on the gable, and a small stone bell cupola. The church was designed by Frank Furness, who is counted among the outstanding American architects of the Victorian period. Its significance rests on its architecture and its religious use, and it is regarded as an excellent example of Furness' style. The congregation's longtime pastor emeritus was Furness' father, who held that role until his death in 1896.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant for its architecture and its religious use. It is described as an excellent example of the work of Frank Furness, one of the outstanding American architects of the Victorian period. The form also notes that Furness' father was pastor emeritus of the congregation until his death in 1896.
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 71000724, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2121 Chestnut St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000724 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Frank Furness (architect) |
| Architectural style | Eclectic Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original site; condition marked as excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 39.95252, -75.17651 (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 71000724.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3402248
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.