Jersey Settlement Meeting House
Also known as: Jersey Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Jersey Baptist Church is a four-bay-long, two-bay-wide brick meeting house on SR 1272 near Linwood, built in 1842-1843 in the Greek Revival style. Its walls are laid in one-to-five common bond with locally made red brick. An 1897-1899 renovation extended the front by one bay, replaced the window openings with Gothic arches and added a delicate sawnwork belfry. A pedimented Doric portico followed about 1945. The congregation was founded about 1755 by Particular Baptists who came from New Jersey, making it the oldest in Davidson County. Its building is the oldest surviving church in the county. Until the mid-nineteenth century the meeting house was shared by Baptists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians, and a 1775 deed named all three groups. Black members, both free and enslaved, formed a significant share of the congregation until 1893. The church remains active, with later classroom additions at the rear and side.
Significance in brief: The congregation, established about 1755, is the oldest religious congregation in Davidson County, and the 1843 meeting house is the county's oldest surviving church building. It is tied to early Particular Baptist settlers from New Jersey and served a union congregation of Baptists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians. It is also seen as typical of nineteenth-century county church sanctuaries later replaced.
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 84002032, listed July 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1272, Linwood |
|---|---|
| County | Davidson County |
| Listed | July 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002032 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1842-1843) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in religious use; described as one of the most active churches in south Davidson County, with several rear and side additions for classrooms. |
| Acreage | 6.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.73211, -80.31143 (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 84002032.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707993
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.