St. Barnabas Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1887 at the corner of S.E. Fourth Street and St. Barnabas Road in Snow Hill, this small board-and-batten church is a modest example of Carpenter Gothic design. Its rectangular frame form has a steep gable roof, lancet openings, and battens that join at the cornice to form a lancet arcade. A rear chancel, an open-frame bell tower and a simple Gothic Revival interior with original-looking pews complete the building. The Episcopal congregation formed in the 1880s and built the church with local funds and a loan, and it was consecrated in 1893 after the debt was paid. It served as the only Episcopal church in Greene County for seventy-five years, but its membership declined and it closed in 1962. A 1952 fire and 1971 vandalism required repairs. The adjoining cemetery, with graves dating to 1850, is kept by the town. The property was recognized for its architecture and its place in local religious history.
Significance in brief: The church is a modest, representative example of the Carpenter Gothic style used for small churches in southeastern North Carolina in the mid and late nineteenth century, spread through architectural pattern books. It was also the only Episcopal church in Greene County for seventy-five years, tying it to the county's religious and social history from 1884 to 1962.
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 79003337, listed October 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE 4th St. and St. Barnabas Rd., Snow Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | October 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003337 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1884-1962 |
| Architect / builder | W. T. Faircloth, Porter & Godwin |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic (Gothic Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed in 1962 but not deconsecrated; inactive, with restoration after 1971 vandalism incomplete. The town of Snow Hill maintains the cemetery. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Within district | Snow Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.45154, -77.67053 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 79003337.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14708173
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.