Christ Episcopal Church and Parish House
Why it's listed
Christ Episcopal Church stands on Pollock Street in New Bern, set in a wooded, fenced lot with its parish house, offices and small cemetery. The present brick church dates to 1875, when it was rebuilt within the walls of an 1824 church gutted by fire in 1871. Its 110-foot tower and buttresses give it a Gothic Revival character, and a Stick Style porch was added in 1884. The chancel was enlarged and remodelled in 1914. Herbert W. Simpson designed the parish house, built from 1904 to 1908 in a style sympathetic to the church. The congregation traces its roots to a parish established in 1715, with Christ Church Parish created in 1741, and every church it has built stands on the same lot. The church displays a 1752 communion service given by George II. Its cemetery holds the graves of early figures such as rector James Reed and colonial attorney general Charles Elliot. A cannon from the Lady Blessington marks a nearby survey point.
Significance in brief: The church is an example of a rather late Gothic Revival building made from the walls of an earlier, 'embryonic Gothic' church. It is also the successor to a parish established in 1715 and the center of its own parish created in 1741, the third oldest in the state. Its notable features include well-executed interiors, a tower with a crown weathervane, a Stick Style entrance porch, a colonial communion service and a historic cemetery.
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 73001320, listed April 13, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 320 Pollock St., New Bern |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Listed | April 13, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001320 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Bennett Flanner (brick mason, 1824 church); Herbert W. Simpson (parish house) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (with Stick Style porch) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and occupied; in religious use. The church has been altered over time. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.10721, -77.03936 (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 73001320.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5108897
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.