First Baptist Church-Lexington
Also known as: VDHR file no. 117-0027-0063
Why it's listed
First Baptist Church in Lexington, Virginia, is a Gothic Revival brick church with limestone basement walls, built between 1894 and 1896 at 103 North Main Street. Two front towers frame a gabled facade with a rose window, and the taller tower carries a belfry and a metal-sheathed spire. Inside, a barrel-vaulted auditorium has a gallery on turned posts, and the basement holds classrooms and meeting rooms. The congregation began in 1867 as Lexington African Baptist Church, formed by Black members who left Lexington Baptist Church. Black masons and carpenters erected the building to a design by architect E. N. Bogher, with Richard Jones as carpenter. The construction debt was paid off by 1905, marked by a mortgage burning that drew a very large crowd. The church is recognized for its architecture and for its central role in the city's African American community between 1896 and 1956. It remains in religious use and keeps a high level of integrity.
Significance in brief: The church was built by Black masons and carpenters to a design by architect E. N. Bogher for a congregation organized in 1867 as Lexington African Baptist Church. It is argued to be significant for Ethnic Heritage (Black) and Architecture because it played a central role in Lexington's African American community and its towers are defining features of the town skyline.
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 06000757, listed August 30, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 103 N. Main St., Lexington (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Lexington |
| Listed | August 30, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000757 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1956 |
| Architect / builder | E. N. Bogher (architect); Richard Jones (carpenter); Irk Poindexter (mason); the Moores of Amherst (masons); Carl Barckhoff (organ manufacturer) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a church; the form says it retains excellent integrity from the period of significance. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | Lexington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.78603, -79.44065 (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 06000757.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16836909
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.