Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church
Also known as: East Fourth Street Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1924 on East Fourth Street in Winston-Salem, this brick church was erected for the East Fourth Street Baptist Church, a white congregation, when the neighborhood was predominantly white. Its front facade has a pedimented porch between two domed brick towers, with an arcade of elliptical and half-round arches and stained glass windows lighting the sanctuary. The Akron-plan interior has one-story side wings beneath the windows and a balcony at the rear. In 1942 the building was bought by a congregation from the Goler Memorial church on Patterson Avenue, whose sanctuary had burned in 1941. The purchase reflected the rapid shift of East Winston from a white to an African-American neighborhood. The congregation later took the name Goler Metropolitan in 1953. The building is valued for its intact exterior and as an example of the style applied to a church.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its association with the growth of African-American neighborhoods in northeastern Winston-Salem, as a white church that was acquired by an African-American congregation in 1942. It is also argued to be an intact, little-changed example of Classical Revival church architecture in Forsyth County.
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 99000060, listed January 27, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1435 E. Fourth St., Winston-Salem |
|---|---|
| County | Forsyth County |
| Listed | January 27, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000060 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1948 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church in use as Goler Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church; the document describes the building as retaining its historic form and materials. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.09955, -80.22714 (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 99000060.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5580472
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.