First Presbyterian Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1856 on a lot donated by trustee Willis Hall, this small stuccoed church at West Ash and James Streets in Goldsboro was the first home of the town's Presbyterian congregation. Its facade has a distyle in antis portico with Tuscan columns, a monumental pediment, pilasters and a louvered wooden cupola. Inside are a simple temple-form room, a pressed tin ceiling, an Estey organ given in 1926 and memorial stained glass windows honoring early local families. No architect is recorded, but the design resembles pattern-book models and the West Presbyterian Church in New York. Greek Revival churches of this full type are rare in North Carolina, and none are known in masonry. The Presbyterians moved to a new complex in 1952, and a Boston architect involved with Colonial Williamsburg urged that the building be saved. The Christian Science Society bought it in 1953 and has kept the original design intact. It is among the few antebellum buildings left in Goldsboro.
Significance in brief: The church is argued to be one of the finest and best-preserved Greek Revival churches in North Carolina, a type rarely built or surviving in the state. Its distyle in antis portico reflects mid-nineteenth century pattern books and the Town and Davis design for West Presbyterian Church in New York. It is also one of very few surviving antebellum buildings in Goldsboro and is tied to the growth of Presbyterianism in the 1850s.
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 79003340, listed May 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 111 W. Ash St., Goldsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Wayne County |
| Listed | May 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003340 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition; used as a Church of Christ, Scientist since its 1953 purchase. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.38627, -77.99701 (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 79003340.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453579
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.