Alfred Street Baptist Church
Also known as: African Baptist Church; First Colored Baptist Church; Dhr#100-5-15-0001
Why it's listed
Alfred Street Baptist Church is a brick church at 313 South Alfred Street in Alexandria, Virginia, built in 1855 for a congregation that traces its origins to 1803. Members leased the site in 1818, and the congregation is the oldest African American one in the city. Alterations in the 1880s added a basement, a vestibule, an organ chamber and a new east facade with Romanesque Revival details such as pilasters, corbelled niches and fleur-de-lis finials. In 1994 a new sanctuary was built beside it, and the historic building was kept with its exterior preserved. The church is important for its role in Black education and community life. Its school, organized by 1820, served children and adults despite restrictions on assembly, and its library was among the first open to African Americans. It helped found other Black congregations, served as a hospital during the Civil War, and sits in the Bottoms, Alexandria's oldest African American neighborhood.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest African American congregation in Alexandria and one of the oldest in the Washington area. Its education branch, organized by 1820, offered religious and secular learning to Black children and adults, and its library was among the first open to African Americans. The building is also one of two surviving ante-bellum Black churches in the city, and its 1880s facade reflects Romanesque Revival influence.
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 03001423, listed January 16, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 313 S. Alfred St., Alexandria (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Alexandria |
| Listed | January 16, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03001423 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1818-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century; vernacular, with an 1880s Romanesque Revival-style facade |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous religious use since 1855 apart from service as a Civil War hospital; a new sanctuary was added in 1994 and the historic church serves as an adjunct, with its exterior preserved and interior extensively altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Alexandria Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.80461, -77.04966 (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 03001423.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4723487
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.