New Berlin Presbyterian Church
Also known as: New Berlin Community Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1843 at the corner of High and Vine streets in New Berlin, this one-story brick church was designed in the Greek Revival style and arranged like a temple. A Doric portico with four fluted wooden columns stands on the west end, and an octagonal cupola rises above the roof. The interior originally held the pulpit at the east end with pews filling the rest of the single large room. The Presbyterian congregation was small, and the church ceased to operate as an active organization early in the twentieth century. In 1933 the remaining members, working through the Northumberland Presbytery, gave the building to the New Berlin Town Council for use as a community center. It is valued for its design, which the nomination describes as a fine example of rural Greek Revival architecture in central Pennsylvania, a region where the style was most common in the northern counties bordering New York. The building retains its original site and much of its exterior appearance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine example of rural Greek Revival architecture in central Pennsylvania, a style it describes as predominant mainly in the northern tier of counties along the New York border. It notes the design is the building's unique quality. The building was built in 1843 as a Presbyterian church and later served as a community center.
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 72001178, listed October 26, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Vine and High Sts., New Berlin |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Listed | October 26, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001178 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1843 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Serves as a community center. |
| Coordinates | 40.87968, -76.98666 (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 72001178.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7005506
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.