Friendship Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Friendship Baptist Church, at 80 West Dayton Street in Pasadena, is a frame and stucco church built in 1925 and completed the next year. Local architect Norman F. Marsh designed it in the Spanish Colonial style, which was especially popular in Southern California during the 1920s. Its features include a large square corner tower with arched openings, a curved gable forming the facade, a rose window above the main entrance, decorative pilasters, and stained-glass windows along the nave. The congregation was formed in 1893 with ten members, met in a rented building and then a tent, and raised funds for the present building in 1925. It is recognized as the first and oldest Black Baptist church in Pasadena and as the mother church for the city's other Black Baptist congregations. The church has played a significant role in civic and cultural affairs, and the city designated it a local landmark. The roof, electrical system and foundation underpinnings have been replaced, but no major alterations are recorded.
Significance in brief: It is described as the first and oldest Black Baptist church in Pasadena, founded by a congregation formed in 1893, and the mother church for the city's Black Baptist congregations. It is also considered a good example of the Spanish Colonial style popular in Southern California in the 1920s.
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 78000696, listed November 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 80 W. Dayton St., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | November 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000696 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925 |
| Architect / builder | Norman F. Marsh (architect); Bowman Construction Co. named as builder in the attached city landmark form |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in religious use; condition marked fair. The roof, much of the electrical system and the foundation underpinnings have been replaced, but no major alterations are reported. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Old Pasadena Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 34.14323, -118.15192 (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 78000696.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5504382
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.