Leigh Street Baptist Church
Why it's listed
Leigh Street Baptist Church is a Greek Revival house of worship at the corner of Leigh and Twenty-Fifth Streets in Richmond's Church Hill area. Designed by Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan, it was begun in 1853, constituted in 1854 and dedicated in 1857. Its stuccoed front has a Grecian Doric portico with six fluted columns and a full entablature. The original wooden porch was replaced in the 1880s with granite steps and an ornamental cast-iron railing attributed to Asa Snyder. Sunday School wings were added in 1917 and 1930, and the interior was reworked several times, notably in 1911 and 1930. The church was the fourth Baptist congregation in Richmond and helped establish seven others, including First African Baptist Church in 1858. Known as the Church of the Helping Hand, it is the oldest white Baptist church in the city to remain in one building. Its largely unchanged exterior reflects antebellum Richmond's architectural quality.
Significance in brief: The nomination points to the church's Greek Revival exterior by architect Samuel Sloan, which survives in original form and represents antebellum Richmond's architectural excellence. It also stresses the congregation's community role: it was the fourth Baptist church in Richmond, helped found seven others, and is the oldest white Baptist church in the city to continuously occupy the same 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 72001523, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 517 N. 25th St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001523 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854-57 (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Sloan of Philadelphia (architect); cast-iron stair railing attributed to Asa Snyder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked as occupied, in good condition, altered, and in religious use; the interior was remodelled in 1911, 1917 and 1930 while the exterior largely survives. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Within district | St. John's Church Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.53384, -77.41643 (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 72001523.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894081
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.