Emmaus Baptist Church
Also known as: VDHR File No. 63-11
Why it's listed
Emmaus Baptist Church is a brick Greek Revival house of worship on 1.16 acres along State Route 106 in New Kent County, Virginia. Built between 1849 and 1852, it measures 38 by 50 feet and follows a simple nave plan with a gable roof, a pedimented east front with two entrance doors, and tall nine-over-nine windows along the sides. Inside, double aisles lead to a raised dais, and the original wooden pews survive. A cemetery to the west and north holds 195 tombstones dated 1855 to 1989. The congregation, formed in 1776 in Charles City County, moved to New Kent in 1817 and replaced its frame meetinghouse as membership grew during the Second Great Awakening. Three generations of the Clopton family shaped its early leadership, including Samuel Clopton, the first Southern Baptist Convention missionary to China. The church is listed for its architecture as a typical, well-preserved example of a pre-Civil War Virginia church, in continuous use since dedication.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is locally significant for architecture as a typical example of the brick Greek Revival churches built by Protestant congregations in Virginia before the Civil War. It replaced a smaller frame building after membership grew during the Second Great Awakening. The building has changed little and retains a high degree of integrity.
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 93000506, listed June 10, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 106 W side, 0.4 mi. S of I-64, Providence Forge |
|---|---|
| County | New Kent County |
| Listed | June 10, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000506 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1852 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use as a church since its 1852 dedication; a cemetery is maintained by the church. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.49912, -77.09226 (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 93000506.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712288
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.