Winthrop Street Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Winthrop Street Baptist Church, at 58 Winthrop Street in Taunton, is a brick Gothic Revival church completed in 1862. It was the second Baptist church built on the same site, and its architect is not known. The facade has three bays arranged around a central projecting tower that ends in a very tall spire. The central entrance sits within a brownstone dripmold surround, a motif repeated in the elongated Gothic windows along the building. A corbeled frieze introduces the gabled roof. Walls are common bond brick. The tower's slate sheathing was removed and a brick addition was made in 1922. The church was recorded as significant for its architecture and was judged to be one of Taunton's most outstanding examples of mid-19th century ecclesiastical design. It is described as a commanding visual element on Winthrop Street and retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association. The building continues to serve as a church.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is architecturally distinguished and meets Criterion C as one of Taunton's most outstanding examples of mid-19th century ecclesiastical architecture. It is described as a commanding visual element on Winthrop Street and retains integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship and association.
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 84002291, listed July 5, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 58 Winthrop St., Taunton |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | July 5, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002291 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as currently in use as a church; a brick addition was made and the slate sheathing on the tower was removed in 1922. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.90042, -71.09555 (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 84002291.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8026586
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.