{"nrhp_refnum":"00000774","name":"First Baptist Church-Newport News","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"119 29th St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Newport News (Independent City)","county":"Newport News","state":"VA","lat":36.979934265000054,"lon":-76.43283820599999,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2000-05-11","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":[],"significance_levels":[],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Richardsonian Romanesque church at 119 29th Street in downtown Newport News, Virginia, first built in 1902-1903, rebuilt after a 1906 fire and completed in 1907, with a three-story educational wing added around 1930. It was designed by architect R.H. Hunt.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the church is a well-preserved example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, built of pink Maine granite and other fine materials. It was among the most prominent religious buildings in town and was rebuilt on the same plan after a fire left only the stone walls. It also reflects the growth of the city's Baptist congregation.","narrative":"This church at 119 29th Street in downtown Newport News was built for a Baptist congregation organized in 1883. Architect R.H. Hunt of Chattanooga designed it in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, using rough-faced pink granite shipped from Maine, a slate roof, round-topped arches, and a tall square tower with corner bartizans. The sanctuary is hexagonal, seats 450, and has a wraparound balcony, timber framing and stained glass. The first building, dedicated in December 1903, burned in January 1906, leaving only the granite walls. The congregation rebuilt on the same plan, and the church was reoccupied in May 1907. The basement was remodeled around 1917 for Sunday school, and a three-story buff brick educational wing with artificial pink stone trim was added around 1930. Later changes include a chapel replacing the Sunday school room's lifting door. It remains in religious use as Zoe Community Church. Its architecture and materials are the basis for its listing.","period_of_significance":"1907-1929","architect_builder":"R.H. Hunt Architect","architectural_style":"Late Victorian: Romanesque","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Currently used for religious purposes, with a church school; occupied by Zoe Community Church.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:52:00.906077-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/63/6820/41682063/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_VA/00000774.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/00000774/c9b28ceb89-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/00000774/c9b28ceb89-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newport_News_former_First_Baptist_Church.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Newport_News_former_First_Baptist_Church.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"100009200","name":"Newport News Downtown Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/virginia/newport-news-downtown-historic-district-100009200/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/41682063","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Baptist_Church_(Newport_News,_Virginia)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48838776"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/virginia/newport-news/first-baptist-church-newport-news-00000774/"}