Pilgrim Congregational Church
Why it's listed
Pilgrim Congregational Church at 45 Broadway in Taunton is a fieldstone church completed in 1852 to designs by New York architect Richard Upjohn. Its bold, geometric form comes from a broad gabled facade organized around an engaged central tower, with a recessed archway entrance set into the tower. Narrow lancet windows emphasize the solidity of the walls, while the side elevations have large round-arched stained glass windows. Large mutule-like projections ornament the cornices of the church and tower. A small rear chapel for Sunday School classes was added in 1915. The congregation formed after a division within the First Parish Church on Church Green, and its first building, the Trinitarian Congregational Church of 1823, was later moved and remodeled as the Jones Atheneum. The property was recognized chiefly for its architectural quality and secondarily as a religious institution serving a growing congregation. It retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
Significance in brief: The church is significant mainly for its architectural distinction as a fieldstone Romanesque Revival design by Richard Upjohn. It is also important as a religious institution built for a growing congregation that split from the First Parish Church. It is described as the second oldest church in central Taunton.
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 84002199, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 45 Broadway, Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002199 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is a church; the form lists the building as retaining integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.90388, -71.09355 (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 84002199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7193929
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.