Mount Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Mount Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church is a red brick Gothic Revival building at 307 Scott Street in James City, south of New Bern. Built around 1924, it has a front-gable form, a tall corner bell tower with a pierced parapet, lancet-arched windows, and corbelled brick panels marking each bay. Inside, a tin-sheathed ceiling with a broken pitch suggests a Gothic arch, and a tiered balcony holds pews moved from the congregation's first church. Samuel Chapman Elliott, a local house carpenter and longtime deacon, built and most likely designed it. The congregation, founded in 1863 by Reverend Hurley Grimes, moved from old James City to the newer Brownsville section, using bricks from a sawmill drying kiln. The church is regarded as a strong local example of brick Gothic Revival design and the only high Gothic Revival church in the community. A 1970s addition at the rear holds classrooms and a dining area. The church remains in religious use.
Significance in brief: The church is argued to be an excellent local example of a brick Gothic Revival church, meeting Criterion C for architecture. It is the only high Gothic Revival church in the new James City and is larger and more ornate than the other brick church there. It is also tied to a congregation founded in 1863 by Reverend Hurley Grimes.
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 07000093, listed March 1, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 307 Scott St., New Bern |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Listed | March 1, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000093 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924 |
| Architect / builder | Elliott, Samuel Chapman (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Late Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a religious facility; a mid-1970s rear addition houses classrooms, a kitchen and a dining area. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.08027, -77.03803 (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 07000093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6923608
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.