St. James Episcopal Church and Rectory
Why it's listed
St. James Episcopal Church in Kittrell, Vance County, is a modest Carpenter Gothic building of frame construction on a stone foundation, covered in board-and-batten. It has lancet-arched openings, hood molds, a square belfry, a front vestibule, and a small chapel added to the north end. Inside, a center-aisle plan keeps most of its original fabric, along with late nineteenth-century memorials. Behind it stands an H-plan, one-story rectory built in 1876, now rented out. The exact construction date is unclear. Tradition points to about 1860, but repairs or rebuilding appear to have taken place in the early 1870s, and the church was consecrated in 1878. The congregation drew on prosperous local farmers and prominent families during years when Kittrell was a resort known for its warm springs and large hotels. Once the springs dried up and the hotels were gone, the church remained as a chief survivor of that period. A small congregation still uses it.
Significance in brief: The church was the focus of a small but relatively prosperous group of farmers and prominent local families in the late nineteenth century. Its role grew with Kittrell's prominence as a resort town built around its warm springs and large hotels. After the springs dried up and the hotels were gone, the church remained as perhaps the chief vestige of that era of prosperity.
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 78001976, listed December 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of SR 1551 and SR 1555, Kittrell |
|---|---|
| County | Vance County |
| Listed | December 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001976 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | mid-19th century |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church is used and maintained by a very small congregation, with services once a month; the former rectory is a rental house owned by the church. Condition is marked good and unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.22195, -78.43999 (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 78001976.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7588493
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.