First Baptist Church
Also known as: See Also:79001676
Why it's listed
First Baptist Church in Asheville is a two-story, polygonal, domed building of tan pressed brick at Oak and Woodfin streets. Built between 1925 and 1927 to designs by Douglas D. Ellington, it combines a monumental classical form with Art Deco ornament. A colossal portico of slender brick piers and pink Georgia marble steps fronts a triple entrance, and a ninety-foot-high dome covered in purple, rust, ocher and green terra cotta tile is topped by a copper cupola. Inside, a single large auditorium with curved chestnut seats and cantilevered balconies was built to seat 2,000. It was the congregation's fourth building, replacing a 1892 church that had grown too small as membership reached about 1,500. The dome, built by Miller Engineering Corporation, was praised at dedication as a feat of engineering. A 1955 renovation altered the southern end and fixtures, though much original decoration remains. The church is listed as a prominent local landmark and an unusual work by a distinguished architect.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as one of Asheville's most prominent landmarks because of its size, its importance to the community's religious life, and its unusual architecture. Ellington applied an individualistic, polychromatic Art Deco treatment to a classical Beaux-Arts form. The steel-ribbed dome was cited at its dedication as a feat of engineering.
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 76001308, listed July 13, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Oak and Woodfin Sts., Asheville |
|---|---|
| County | Buncombe County |
| Listed | July 13, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001308 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925-1927/1955 |
| Architect / builder | Douglas D. Ellington (architect); dome built by Miller Engineering Corporation |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts form with Art Deco detail |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and in religious use; remodeled in 1955, with the original auxiliary library and chapel buildings still attached. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Downtown Asheville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.59915, -82.54753 (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 76001308.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18150091
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.