Hornbine Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Hornbine Baptist Church is a small one-story clapboard meetinghouse at the triangular intersection of Hornbine Road and Baker Street in Rehoboth. Built in 1753 as a simple barn-like room, it is described as the earliest surviving Baptist meetinghouse in southeast Massachusetts. Some thirty members left the second church in Swansea to form the congregation, which first met in a private house. Growth led to remodelling in 1802, when galleries and pews were added, and again in 1869, when the entrance was moved, the ceiling lowered and a raised pulpit alcove built. A social hall was added in 1869, enlarged in 1874 and remodelled in the 1960s. Apart from the hall, the building and its largely unaltered crossroads setting have changed little since the 1870s. The congregation became non-denominational in 1888, and its suppers and annual clambakes have kept it central to community life. The church is still in use by its original congregation.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the earliest surviving Baptist meetinghouse in southeast Massachusetts. It is still well maintained and occupied by its original congregation, and it has changed little since the 1870s. It meets criteria A and C for its role in community life and its architecture.
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 83000678, listed June 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 141 Hornbine Rd., Rehoboth |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | June 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000678 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Well maintained and still occupied by its original congregation; used as a church. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.79876, -71.20043 (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 83000678.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5904068
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.