LANDMARKS
of New York State
First Methodist Episcopal Church
Tioga Center
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For many years, circuit preachers of the Oneida Conference traveled to Tioga Center to preach to the congregation of the Tioga Center Methodist Church. They held meetings in private homes, barns and schools until 1828, when a church was completed, the "First Methodist Episcopal Church of Tioga Center". Incorporated in 1872, the present building was dedicated the following year. At the time of its dedication a large amount was owed on the church and it was later sold at a sheriff's sale. Colonel Ransom bought the property, and following his death, his daughter, Mrs. Lattimer, deeded the property to the church. Throughout its history the church has played an active role in the community of Tioga Center. The vertical proportions of the facade and its tall and slender spire contribute to its prominence as a visual and architectural landmark in the hamlet.
Original Name
First Methodist Episcopal Church of Tioga Center
Current Name
United Methodist Chuch
Location
3022 Route 17C
Tioga Center
Tioga County
New York
Map
Click Here for a Map & Driving Directions
Category
Religious Sturcture
Designation
National Historic Landmark
Registered 2002
Construction Began
1872
Architect/Builder
.
Architectural Style
Late Victorian, Gothic
Original Owner
.
Original Use
Religion/Church
Number of Stories
2
Foundation
Cut stone
Exterior Materials
Clapboard and Flushboard
Roof
Asphalt Shingle
Interior Features
The interior consists of a shallow vestibule with two winding staircases leading to a choir loft. Across the rear of the sanctuary is a second-floor balcony supported on iron columns. The first baptismal urn, with the name of Angelia Ransom, an early member of the church, printed on the side, was removed to the office of the church. The original pulpit was moved to the prayer room, original stained glass windows have been replaced.
Additions
The rear of the church was extended by a full-width one-story addition.
Current Owner
January 2007
United Methodist Church of Tioga Center
Current Condition
Excellent
Public Access
Yes
Local Information
Town of Tioga
The United Methodist Church of Tioga Center is important as an intact representative example of a rural vernacular late-nineteenth-century church in upstate New York. It is a significant example in Tioga County of Victorian eclecticism, combining elements of the Romanesque Revival and the Second Empire styles into a cohesive design. The church is the largest and most prominent building in the hamlet.

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