First Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1848, this Gothic Revival church in New Bern stands at the corner of Middle Street and Church Alley. It is made of red brick laid in Flemish bond, with a square crenelated entrance tower, pointed-arched openings and stained glass windows. The plan came from the New York firm Thomas & Son, and a local builder, Hardy B. Lane, did the carpentry. The interior was altered in the early twentieth century and again in 1943, though the vestibule remains largely original. A cast-iron fence by the Champion Iron Company surrounds part of the lot. The congregation traces to Baptists active in New Bern by 1740 and organized in 1809. Its ministers included founders and namesakes of Wake Forest, Meredith, Furman and Chowan colleges, and the congregation began the Biblical Recorder in 1835. The sanctuary hosted Edward Everett's 1859 oration on George Washington and a 1948 worship visit by President Harry Truman.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church's historical associations are more impressive than its architecture. Several ministers went on to found or lead Baptist colleges, and the congregation began the Biblical Recorder in 1835. The building also hosted public events, including a visit by President Harry Truman in 1948, and is an interesting example of Gothic Revival church design.
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 72000941, listed March 24, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Middle St. and Church Alley, New Bern |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Listed | March 24, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000941 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1848) |
| Architect / builder | Thomas & Son of New York (plan); Hardy B. Lane (carpentry); brick made by Colonel H. J. B. Clark |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; in use as a religious building, with the sanctuary renovated in the early 1900s and in 1943. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.10321, -77.04551 (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 72000941.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452416
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.