First Baptist Church of Medfield
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Main and South Streets in Medfield's town center, this wood-frame church was built in 1838 for the town's Baptist congregation. Local builder Jonathan Gleason constructed it in the Greek Revival style, with a pedimented gable front and a bell tower on the roof ridge. In 1874 a new Victorian Gothic façade was added, bringing a slate-roofed steeple, a corner turret and diamond-paned windows. The sanctuary was renovated in 1905, adding quartered-oak pews and an embossed tin ceiling. A Colonial Revival education wing was added in 1969-1970, and an elevator was installed in 1994. The congregation has been part of Medfield since the late 18th century, and the building held the town's first Baptist church bell and first church organ. It is considered the best-preserved example of Victorian Gothic institutional architecture in the town, and it still serves as a church and houses a daycare.
Significance in brief: The church is tied to Medfield's Baptist congregation, a presence at the town center since the late 18th century. It is the best-preserved example of the town's Victorian Gothic institutional architecture. It was listed for its associations with religion, settlement and social history, and for its architecture, including the 1874 remodeling and 1905 sanctuary renovation.
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 03000921, listed September 11, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 438 Main St., Medfield |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 11, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000921 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1838-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Gleason, Jonathan E.; Dirlam, Arland A. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Gothic; Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a church; part of the building is leased to a children's daycare center. The interior is described as in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.18705, -71.30359 (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 03000921.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452473
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.