First Congregational Church
Also known as: United Church Of Christ
Why it's listed
Built in 1840 at Main and Church Streets in Stoneham, this Congregational church is the town's most stylish example of Greek Revival design and the earliest of three well-preserved religious buildings there. It is a rectangular wooden structure on a brick foundation under a pitched roof, clad in clapboards except for the flushboarded gable-end facade. Ornament is concentrated on the west-facing front, which is divided into three parts by unfluted Doric pilasters carrying a full entablature. Each part has an entry with a transom below and a 6/6 window above. The gable is treated as a pediment with a triangular louvered opening, topped by a three-part steeple with a rectangular base, louvered belfry and octagonal spire. This is the congregation's third building. The first was erected in 1726 and a meeting house of 1803 burned in 1840. The parish became independent of the town in 1826. The church occupies the block known as Church Square, or the Common, in the central business district.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as Stoneham's most fully developed and stylish example of Greek Revival architecture. It is also the earliest of three well-preserved religious structures in town and has had a central role in the town's establishment and growth. The form states it has integrity of location, design, setting, materials and workmanship.
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 84002609, listed April 13, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main and Church Sts., Stoneham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002609 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Alterations are noted as interior only; the building has not been moved. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Central Square Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.48099, -71.09968 (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 84002609.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452823
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.