Evangelical Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1873 at a cost of $18,000, this Gothic Revival church at 23 Chapel Street in Nonantum replaced a chapel destroyed by fire in 1872. Its walls combine randomly laid Newton Centre stone with red and asphalt-dipped brick. The most distinctive feature is an offset entrance tower banded with brick, topped by a heavy corbelled cornice and a steep pyramidal roof. The front-gabled nave has shed-roofed side aisles, a round window, and a pointed brick arch enclosing three lancet windows. Architect Charles Edward Parker of Auburndale donated his services. The congregation grew from a Sunday school begun by Samuel Lowry, who later served as pastor from 1867 until his death in 1884. Thomas Dalby, a local mill owner, gave the site near his knitting mill. The congregation later became Baptist. Additions made between 1900 and 1910 blend with the original design, and the exterior has changed little.
Significance in brief: The church is presented as an important example of Victorian Gothic church architecture in Newton, designed by a known Newton architect. It is also tied to the development of the village of Nonantum, where a congregation grew out of a mission Sunday school for factory workers.
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 86001796, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 23 Chapel St., Newton |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001796 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles Edward Parker (architect, who donated his services) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (Victorian Gothic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; still in use as a church. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.36429, -71.20235 (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 86001796.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5415636
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.