Forest City Baptist Church
Also known as: First Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Set on a knoll near downtown Forest City, North Carolina, this red brick church was completed in 1915 to designs by Charlotte architect James M. McMichael, with Longest and Tessier of Greensboro as contractor. Its plan is cruciform, built around an octagonal core under a slate-covered pyramidal roof, and its front wing carries a full-height Ionic portico. A matching educational building, the Alexander Memorial Building, was designed by Casey and Fant of Anderson, South Carolina, built by W. H. Hand and Sons, and occupied in 1927. It has a similar Ionic portico, and the two buildings together form an imposing facade. The congregation, founded in 1848 and later renamed First Baptist Church, built the 1915 church as the town grew with new mills, electricity and piped water. It is the town's most notable Neoclassical Revival building and the only known McMichael work there. Later additions, a 1950s chapel and a 1980 fellowship hall, sit at the rear, leaving the early buildings largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C for architecture. It is a fine 1915 Neoclassical Revival church and the only known work in town of architect James M. McMichael. The 1927 Alexander Memorial Building, with a similar portico, forms a cohesive facade reflecting the growth and prosperity of the Baptist congregation and the town.
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 89001417, listed September 14, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 301 W. Main St., Forest City |
|---|---|
| County | Rutherford County |
| Listed | September 14, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001417 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1927 |
| Architect / builder | McMichael, James M./Longest & Tessier; Casey and Fant/W. H. Hand & Sons |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use as First Baptist Church; later additions include a 1956-57 chapel and a 1980 fellowship hall placed at the rear. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 35.33438, -81.86908 (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 89001417.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5468818
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.