Macedonia Baptist Church
Also known as: Michigan Street Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1845 on the east side of Michigan Avenue in Buffalo, this red-painted brick church began as the Michigan Street Baptist Church. Its exterior is plain, with arched front windows, a dentilled brick trim and a stone plaque dated 1845. Inside is one large sanctuary with a raised altar, a semicircular apse ringed by six columns, and original pews. The congregation formed around 1837, during the rise of the Abolition Movement, and the church became the most prominent and enduring Black church in the city. Rev. J. Edward Nash served as pastor for 61 years and helped found the Buffalo Urban League and the local NAACP. Nearby, at Mary B. Talbert's house, delegates from eighteen states met in 1905 to form the Niagara Movement. The nomination presents the church as the center of Buffalo's Black community and its civil rights leadership.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church has been an activist institution since the Abolition Movement of the 1830s and 1840s and a central institution in Buffalo's Black community for about 125 years. It was led for 61 years by Rev. J. Edward Nash, who helped found the Buffalo Urban League and the local NAACP. Neighbor Mary B. Talbert hosted a national conference in 1905 that launched the Niagara Movement.
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 74001233, listed February 12, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 511 Michigan Ave., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | February 12, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001233 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Black, Politics/Government, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as conspicuously well-tended and maintained, in good condition, occupied and in religious use, though altered by an added entrance; it sits in a decaying area long proposed to be cleared. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.88622, -78.86734 (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 74001233.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6723060
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.