Church of Christ, Swansea
Also known as: First Christian Congregational Church
Why it's listed
This 1½-story clapboard church on G.A.R. Highway (U.S. Route 6) in Swansea was dedicated in 1833 and is the second meetinghouse on its site. Its gable-front facade has a pediment, six paneled pilasters, a round-arched double-door entrance, and ogee-arched windows. A square two-stage tower carries an octagonal cupola. The interior was remodeled and the building enlarged in 1873, and a one-story education wing was added on the east side in 1966. An 1868 organ by E. & G. Hook was restored in 1963. The congregation was formally organized in 1693, with services reported as early as 1680. It was independent of the town, never supported by taxation, and open to Christians regardless of doctrine. For generations its pastors came from the Mason family. The building is recognized locally for this religious history and as a Greek Revival design. It stands in a heavily developed commercial area and remains in religious use.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites Criterion A for its association with a non-sectarian Christian church organized in Swansea in the late 17th century, which was never tied legally to the town or supported by taxation. It cites Criterion C as an important local example of Greek Revival architecture. It also meets Criterion Consideration A for religious properties.
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 90000075, listed February 16, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | G. A. R. Hwy./US 6 at Maple Ave., Swansea |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000075 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; still used for religious services. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.75101, -71.22477 (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 90000075.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5116833
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.