First Baptist Church of Covington, Virginia
Also known as: First Baptist Church; VDHR file no. 107-0039
Why it's listed
Three closely sited buildings in Covington's historic African American neighborhood make up this church property: a brick sanctuary of 1911 at 337 South Lexington Avenue, an earlier frame church of about 1890 on South Maple Avenue, and a 1966 parsonage. The 1911 building combines Gothic and Colonial Revival elements, including a corner belfry tower, lancet-arched stained-glass windows and a 1955 education wing. It was built by James R. Hunter & Sons, an African American construction firm based in Covington, for $13,240. The older church is a four-bay frame building with an original gallery and a 1952 stage; it is now vacant and deteriorating. The congregation was organized in 1870 and became the city's largest African American congregation. The church served religious needs and offered social outreach, and it appears to have encouraged development of the surrounding South Lexington Avenue neighborhood. Its significance is local, and the period of significance runs from about 1890 to 1951.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is significant under Criterion A in the area of Black ethnic heritage, for its long role in Covington's African American community. The congregation, organized in 1870, was historically the city's largest African American congregation. The 1911 sanctuary was built by the African American firm James R. Hunter & Sons. The ca. 1890 church is the congregation's earliest surviving building.
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 01001518, listed January 24, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 337 S. Lexington Ave., Covington (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Covington |
| Listed | January 24, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001518 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1890-1951 |
| Architect / builder | James R. Hunter & Sons (builder) |
| Architectural style | Gothic; Colonial Revival; Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The 1911 church is in use by the congregation with good integrity. The ca. 1890 church is vacant, in disrepair and threatened by neglect, with roof holes and pigeon infestation; the congregation is considering repairs. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 37.78663, -79.99313 (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 01001518.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452460
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.