Yopps Meeting House
Also known as: Yopps Primitive Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Yopps Meeting House is a simple white-painted frame church built about 1890 near the south bank of the New River at Sneads Ferry in Onslow County. It rests on round lightwood posts, has a steep gable front with two entrances, and holds a plain interior of beaded boards laid in a chevron pattern, rustic slat-back benches and a semi-octagonal pulpit. The site was deeded in 1813 for a meeting house shared by Methodists, Presbyterians, Missionary Baptists and Primitive Baptists. The Primitive Baptists gradually became its main users and organized a church there in 1835. After the Missionary Baptists built elsewhere, the present building replaced the older one. Cemeteries for white and black members hold about 150 burials, including rare carved heart pine headboards and footboards. The property was recognized for its role in local religious and social history, for its restrained architecture typical of Primitive Baptist meeting houses, and for its funerary art. A preservation group has owned it since 1997.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a characteristic remnant of the Primitive Baptist denomination in the region, with a plain design that reflects the congregation's rejection of ornament. It is also valued for rare carved wooden head- and footboards in its graveyards, a form of funerary art. Its history includes a shared worship agreement among several denominations and the later dominance of the Primitive Baptists.
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 99000868, listed July 22, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NC 172, jct. with Sneads Ferry Rd., Sneads Ferry |
|---|---|
| County | Onslow County |
| Listed | July 22, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000868 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1842-1949 |
| Architectural style | Simplified Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Religion, Social History, Architecture, Art |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in very good condition with most of its original integrity; a new metal roof was installed after Hurricane Fran in 1996. Used as a community center and by a Scout troop, and owned since 1997 by a preservation group. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 34.55854, -77.40402 (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 99000868.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8055246
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.