First Christian Church
Also known as: First Church of Christ
Why it's listed
On South Main Street in Robersonville, First Christian Church is a one-story brick building in the Romanesque Revival style, completed for a Disciples of Christ congregation organized in 1876. The cross-gable facade features two sets of three arched stained-glass windows with corbelled blonde-brick hoods, a slate hip roof and a two-story corner bell tower with a crenellated parapet. Inside, the church keeps its original Akron plan, with plaster walls, grained woodwork and a sanctuary lit by stained glass. Bricks for the building were first delivered in July 1913, and the church was dedicated in October 1914 at a cost of about $10,000. It replaced the congregation's 1877 frame church. A 1956 education building and a small pioneer cemetery stand behind it. The church was listed for its architecture, as one of only three early-twentieth-century Disciples of Christ churches in Martin County that remain architecturally intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under Criterion C as a representative example of an early-twentieth-century Romanesque Revival church. It reflects the influence of popular national architectural styles on North Carolina churches in the early 1900s. It is one of three of eight surviving Disciples of Christ churches in Martin County from this period that retain enough integrity for listing.
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 05000353, listed April 28, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 126 S. Main St., Robersonville |
|---|---|
| County | Martin County |
| Listed | April 28, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000353 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Romanesque Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a religious facility, with a cemetery on the grounds. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.82289, -77.25274 (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 05000353.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452643
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.