St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and Churchyard
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Why it's listed
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church sits on a high knoll in Hillsborough, surrounded by a churchyard of about 520 by 370 feet shaded by oaks, hollies and magnolias. The brick church, built in Flemish bond with a steep gable roof, was consecrated in 1826 after an earlier church of 1766 burned around 1793. It is an early example of Gothic Revival design, with narrow pointed arches, lancet windows filled with stained glass, and a square west tower topped by a pyramidal spire. The building took its present form over about forty-five years: the tower was added in 1830 and rebuilt in 1850, a gallery came in 1835, and the east bay, chancel and exposed-beam ceiling followed in 1868, with the spire in 1875. The churchyard holds Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin, botanist and musician Moses Ashley Curtis, and members of other prominent families, along with early nineteenth century gravestones of striking design.
Significance in brief: The church is cited as the first appearance of Gothic influence in North Carolina church architecture. It is also a landmark overlooking Hillsborough and is associated with many prominent North Carolinians, several of whom are buried in its churchyard.
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 71000614, listed June 24, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | St. Mary's Rd., Hillsborough |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | June 24, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000614 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Architect possibly Francis Lister Hawks (suggested, not confirmed) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, occupied and in religious use. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Hillsborough Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.07644, -79.09497 (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 71000614.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7590605
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.