First African Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Located at the northeast corner of College and East Broad Streets in Richmond, this brick church was built in 1876 for the African Baptist congregation, described as one of the oldest Black congregations in Virginia. It is a temple-form building in the late Greek Revival style, with a portico holding two unfluted Doric columns in antis. Doric pilasters frame recessed panels along the sides, and the entablature combines Roman Corinthian elements such as modillions and dentils, with a frieze of rosettes. Its design echoed that of the First Baptist Church at 12th and Broad Streets. Over time the building changed: the original tall arched windows were filled in and replaced by two levels of rectangular windows, the cupola was removed, and the auditorium was divided into two floors. The Medical College of Virginia bought it in 1955, and it now serves as offices and classrooms. The property covers about one-fifth of an acre.
Significance in brief: Built in 1876, it housed one of the oldest Black congregations in Virginia. Its design echoed that of the First Baptist Church at 12th and Broad Streets. It is also noted as an example of late-Greek Revival architecture.
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 69000348, listed April 16, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE corner of College and E. Broad Sts., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | April 16, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000348 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876 |
| Architectural style | Late Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Sold to the Medical College of Virginia in 1955; now houses offices and classrooms. Condition listed as fair, with alterations including removal of the cupola and division of the interior into two floors. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.53863, -77.42926 (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 69000348.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5452255
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.