First Baptist Church of Fairport
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of South Main and West Church streets in the center of Fairport, this brick church was built in 1876 in the High Victorian Gothic style. Its cruciform plan includes a main tower 80 feet tall and a spire reaching 184 feet above street level. The walls are dark red painted brick with contrasting Berea sandstone trim, and the foundation is Medina sandstone. Inside, a large auditorium sits above a floor of classrooms and meeting rooms, an arrangement typical of non-liturgical Protestant churches in the mid-nineteenth century. The auditorium has hammer-beam trusses, a chestnut ceiling, original pews, a balcony, and a marble-faced baptistery. The church keeps 72 original stained, leaded-glass windows made in Detroit. Alterations over time include a 1949 chancel and a 1964 remodeling of the lower floor, but the building retains strong integrity. It was recognized for its architecture and as the most prominent landmark in the village, whose congregation dates to the early nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C as a distinctive nineteenth-century ecclesiastical building in the High Victorian Gothic style. Its layout, with a large auditorium above a floor of classrooms and meeting rooms, is characteristic of non-liturgical Protestant church design of the third quarter of the nineteenth century. It retains a high level of integrity and is the most prominent building in the village, a local landmark with its 184-foot steeple.
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 06000892, listed September 28, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 94 S. Main St., Fairport |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | September 28, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000892 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876-ca 1950 |
| Architect / builder | J.R. Thomas |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the form describes alterations including a 1964 first-floor remodeling, an elevator and accessible entrance added in 1998, and a 1983 heating replacement. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 43.10060, -77.44198 (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 06000892.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452466
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.