First Baptist Meeting House National Historic Landmark

LOCApON-... ______-, ppma7e-r 7/h

10-300 UNITE[ STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STAT;: 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode_Island

COUNTY * NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Providence INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY [f$ATIONAL HISTORIC ENTRY NUMB EH DATE

TyJ*421tcM1K - complete applicable sections

ft:NAMETTTTTTT7I1 .:.:.::T:..:; -.?.* COMMON: First Baptist Meeting House

AND/OR HISTORIC: First Baptist Meeting House

..: .... .: .. ,. .:: . STREET AND NUMBER: 75 North Main Street CITY OR TOWN: Providence 1st Congressional District STATE CODE COUNTY: CODE Rhode Island 44 Providence 007 LA S SIF ICAT ION CATEGORY ACCESSIBLE OWNERSHIP STATUS Check One TO THE PUBLIc

El District Building El Public Public Acquisition: tJ Occupied Yes: Restricted El Site El Structure Private El In Process o Unoccupied Unrestricted El Object Both El Being Considerod El Preservation work in progress No

PRESENT USE Check One or More as Appropriate El Agricultural FJ Government El Pork El Transportation El Comments El Commercial El Industrial El Private Residence El Other Specify El Educational El Military Religious El Entertainment El Museum El Scientific

WNER OF PROPERTY OWNERS NAME: Baptist Church *,

STREET AND NUMBER: 75 North Main Street

CITY OR TOWN: 5T4rE: Providence

LOCATRThOF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC: Providence City Hall

STREET AND NUMBER: Dorrance and Washington Streets CITY OR TOWN: St ATE Providence Rhode Island

ENTArloiwExitiIc SURyEyS-.H.- -. TITLE OF SURVEY: zF Historic American -t S m -C 04 TE 0 F 5uRVEY:19UD7T377i era I tote County Lao 0 .2,2__Fed C El *2 DEPOSITORY FOR SUNVEY RECORDS: C Division to -D of Prints and Photographs In I C STREET AND NUMBER: C Library 0 of Congress/Annex z CITY OR TOWN: - STATE: C -C Washington D.C: Form IO-300o UNITEL STArES DEPAR’FMEMr OF THE 5’VERRR

July 1969 NATIONAL FARI SERVICE - . , . .,. - _ rut it:’ , NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTO!flC PLACES -"‘ V IHVENTORY POMINATIO I2RM IINATIONAL HISTORIC rt77JE

-- LANDM1udS . Continuation Sheet

Number all entries 7. Description second page

These pilasters are carried around the east wall ebere they frame the pulpit and sounding board by supporting a keystone. eLliptical. arch molding. This monumental central feature :Ls flaIcr:d by large double doors ith eared frames topped by broken pedinients. Between the pulpit and the sounding board is a Pal,1.aciian window. -

Several other structural changes occured thzoughout the nineteenth cenkury. In 1832 the high pulpit and original square cws were removed and the woodwork was painted white. In 1834 thc: organ, given by Nicholas Brown II, was installed. This was enlarged. end rebuilt In 1884 and 1929, but the original case and many of the original pipes have an::- vived. Also in 1884 an ‘addition was made to r.he east end of the building. Here a new haptistry was installed and a stained glass window inserted in the east wall of the adcUtion. Tite Waterford glass chandelier is original, given by Hope Brown in 1792.

In 1957, through the interest of John D. Rockfcllj"r Jr. , the entire building was renovated and strengthened, the white paint on the interior woodwork was changed to the original sage green, and the high pulpit and sounding board were restored along the lines of tile first design. The baptistry added in 1884 was closed off from the main auditorium by means of a reconstructed Pa].ladian window, rebuilt in the position of the original.

BOUNDARY . -

The First Baptist Meeting House property occupies a full blocic bounded on the north by the south curb of Thomas Street, on the east by the west curb of Benefit Street, on the south by the north curb of Waterman Street and on the we,st hr the east curb of North Main

Street, an area of apn.oiii:ately 1.1 acres, -

Gt’O 921.7t4 ______

N’

TIJiiiT±iii Chraic trio - Excellent Li Good fl Fair Dolerioruted Li thu.,, -. Li LIneApnood CONDITION Altered [ LlnuHmed , cI1"__J.±±± Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL itkr.ow,, PNVSICAL APPEAIIANCII . . ‘

The First Baptist Meeting House was originally eighty feet square, with doors on all four sides, the main entrance being at the west end under the tower. The main body of the church is a two story frame structure with a low pitched roof and gable ends. Wooden quoins visually support the corners adding a vertical etphacis to the horizontal clapboarding and wooden beitcourse at the second story. Two rows of round-headed keystoned windows surround the entire building over a high basement with rectangular windows. The graceful spire rises from a projecting pedimanted two-story porch or tower with wooden quoins and a modillioned cornice on the gable, like those of the main structure. In the center of the upper story of ihe pavilion is a Palladian window. The entrance itself is framed 5y a freestanding pedimented Doric portico. Although the beautifully proportioned and ornamented spire is the major focal point of the building, it lacks ii, unity with the rest of the building in both scale and quality. . I.,, This..lack of coherence reveals Brown’s amateur methods of design. Instead of planning the building as a whole, he gathered parts from various plates in Gibbs’ book and adjusted them to acoimtodate the building. The tower was taken almost line for line from one of the rejected designs for St. Martin’s which Gibbs illustrated in his book. A Boston master carpenter, James Summer, was brought to Providence to execute the design in wood, eliminating only the non-architectural

ornament. .

Originally painted to imitate grained stone, it would have had an even stronger resemblance to the prototype. Gibbs’ steeple however, was designed to mount a full Corinthian portio; Brown used instead a small one story portico from another plate, Gibbs’ design for Marybone Chapel. The first stage of the spire is square, with quoined corners, relating it to the porch on which it rests, Abc-u I:bis an almost temple like pavilion sits, pedimented all four si des, u,Lth arched openings below, framed by Ionic pilasters. The caird and forth stages are octagonal, diminishing in size5 with arched windows and Corinthian pilasters. Ornamental vases or urns at the angles of each stage, decrease proportionately in size, maintaining the upward movement of forms.

On the interior, the Square auditorium is divided into nave and side aisles by a row of four fluted Doric columns on each side which carry an elliptical ceiling -and ‘groini.vaulted gallery. A balcony cuts through the columns on both sides. This arrangement is a somewhat simplified version of Gibbs’ design for Marybone Cahp’e-l, also illustrated in his book. The broad shallow plaster vault over the nave and the groin vaulted side bays are unornamented and’ create a lorry oapa:nw,’e space, accented by their light, graceful springing from the slender Doric columns. Fluted doric pilasters along the wall correspond to the H columns and provide support for the vaults of the side bays. ______-______

-. jlGNl FtANCE.::-.-.:iY

PERIOD Chock One ot Ajorr on 4ppropriolo P.e.Columbion 16th Cenlury * El El 13th Century - El 20th Century El 15th Century El 17,h Cenlury El 19,1. Cent nry

* ‘SPEC I Ft C DAT EIS, If Applical’te and ICnoicrn_.J7iLt,7

AR EAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Check One Or More nt Apprupriatdj - - Aboriginal - Education ["i Political IJ UrL’rm Ptorinnirng rj Prehistoric El Engineering flJ Religon/Phi. El Other hc.-c-;:v Historic El El Industry losophy Agriculture El El Invontion El Sci OtICO Architecture I - El Londscopo El Sculpture ‘ Art El Architecture -, ‘ El Socio I/Human. Commerce 0 ‘ El Literature , brian Communications - El Military El Titeote, - - - Conservation 0 Music ‘ El ‘‘ El Tioniporranon --

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE ‘ ‘‘ ‘‘ -

The First Baptist Meeting House, erected in Providence Rhode Island’ in 1774-75, is an important example of late Georgian church design in the American colonies. Joseph Brown, a wealthy merchant and pro- - fessor at Brown University, was in part responsible for the design, o based upon an unexecuted variant for St. Martins-in-the-Fields by - James Gibbs. The building reflects its New England heritage in its frame and clapboard construction and in its originally square, meeting house plan. Although perhaps not as elegant as Christ Church in Philadelphia 1727-57, with its wealth of Baroque detail executed in brick, or as refined as Kings Chapel in Boston 1761 with its well proportioned portico and fine granite masonry, The First Baptist Meeting House with its well proportioned, elaborate spire retains a U, strength and dignity which makes it one of the most beautiful eighteenth century churches in America.

1HISTORY Iii Lu In 1638 Roger Williams founded the first Baptist Church in America. For sixty years, services were held in houses of members untilthe sixth pastor, Pardon Tillinghast, built the first church. In’ 1774 when it was decided that a new church was needed, a site was chosen and Joseph Brown, amateur architect, and Jonathan Hammond, master carpenter, were sent to Boston to view churches and meetinghouses there. A coimnittee was formed called The Charitable Baptist Society and was granted a Charter of Incorporation giving it the power to receive and hold property. The meeting house was completed in 1775 as an 80 foot square building seating about twelve hundred persons. The design, selected by Joseph Brown, was based upon several plates - from James Gibbs’ Book of Architecture, 1728, which was owned by Brown. The plan was adapted to confirm to the square, non axial building of the traditional meeting-house to disassociate it from Anglican worship. Originally an aisle ran through the middle at right angles to the side aisles with doors opening on all sides.- In 1832 the box pews were removed and the present longitudinal ones installed which changed the original orientation of the church. This was further disrupted in 1884 when an addition was made to tite east end of the -* building. ..Forrn 1O-300a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ‘July 1969 nATIONAL PARK SFiVtCE - NATIONAL REGISTER OF II1STORIC PLACES <:0, n-i ence - LWIVENTORY . NOMINATION FORM LNATIONAL HISTORIL Fop HI’S CHLY LANDLiA11KS Continuation Sheet I: F li17IIFII4

Nun. her all entries 8. Significance second page

With two exceptions 1804 and 1832 Brown UniEcrc;ity ‘5 cornFicncement

has been held in the Meetinghouse since 1.776. - One of these t:aduates ,- John P. Rockefeller Jr. funded a complete rehaVilai:ion in 1957-58 and the building remains today both a useful house for an active religious community and -a fine example of late -eorgian church architecture.

c-nP 0 921.724 ______ft MAJOR BWLIOGRAPI-flCAL REFERENCE,______Downing, Antoinette F., Early homes of Rhode Island, -Richmond, Va. 3.937. Isham, , Norman M. The Meeting House of the First Baptist Church_in Pro-;’L- dence, Providence R.I., 1925. - King, Henry M., "The First Baptist Church, Providence, Rhode Island,’t Old Time New England, XXXIV, No 3, January, 1944. Marlowe, George F., Churches of Old New England, New York, 1947. Morrison, Hugh, Early American Architecture, New York, 1952. - Pierson, William H. Jr., American Buildings and Their Architects: Colonial C1assical Styles, Garden City, N.Y., 1970.

I .t Io& 1 - I - LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATOS DEFINING TOE CENTER POINT OF A PROPEr7TV DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY 0 R OF LESS THAN TeN ACRES CORNER LATITUDE JLONGITUOE UTM LATITUOC LONGI

Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Doqices Minutes S In c on ci 5 NW a . .. o 0 0 o 0 NE 19.299930.4633190 SE o 0 SW O . p 0 APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: Lj.,_acxes Lfl LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES -

STATE: CODE COUNTY ni

STATE: CODE COUNTY:

z STATE: ‘ ‘ CODE COUNTY: U,

- STATE: CODE COUNTY: . - -1 fij’?TFOR P k E C NAME AND TITLE Patricia Heintzelman, architectural historian, Landmark Review 0 Projçç original form prepared by Chax1esSne]1, 1967. ORGANI zATIOr4 - ‘ DATE Historic Sites Survey 1/20/75 STREET AND NUMBER: - 0 1100 L. Street, N.W. - - -‘ - z

CITY OR TOWN: STATE - CODE j tan Washington D.C. - .Lu 112. STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICA I ION NATIONAL REGISTER VERIrIcATON::;:::hFL

As the designated State Liaison Officer or the NH’ I hereby eify that l41is property is includcc in llte tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law National eister 89-665. 1 hereby nominate this- property for inclusion / /‘i // ii in tI:e National Register and certify that it has been 1NATIONAL uI’4ToP4p:0 evaluated according to the criteria nd procedures set ,P::’JeAMDMAhK’Si forth by the National Park Service. - l’he recommended Chief 0 Arc O!ogy oo4 lVstoric ion significance of this nomination is: level of 1- National State Local ..HIsT0T{IlnC.t.3 0 El El ±ôthL

- NATIONAL HISTORIC Date Name LALno._.,ts.3 Al’TESI’ rDtt .hn-id: 76

Title -

Kee;’er of Tile N.’stio.z.,I Rufii.cter tINATIOHAT; ursTonIa -

Dale ‘‘ 1’ - * - Dnte - _____-

Form 10300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE: July 969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island - COUNTY d NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Providence INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY LLR&TIONAL HISTORIC - ENTRY NUMUER DATE

- complete applicable sections

LLNAME :----::- :.:-:---n: : - : - -- - - COMMON: First Baptist Meeting House

AND/OR HISTORIC: First Baptist Meeting House .OCAT ION

STREET ANO NUMBER: 75 North Main Street CITY OR TOWN: Providence 1st Concressional District STATE CODE COUNTY: I CODE Rhode Island 44 I Providence 007 13. CLASSIFICATION

OWNERSHIP STATUS TO THE PUBLIC

El District Building El Public Public Acquisition: 5 Occuoied Yes: Restricted El Site El Structure Private El In Process fl Unoccupied ‘L -. Unrestricted El Object 0 Both El Being Considered o Preservation work inprog’ess El No - PRESENT USE Check One or More as Appropriate

- El Agricultural El Government El Pork El Transportation El Comments El Commercial El Industrial El Privete Residence El Other Specify O Educotional El Military Religious El Entertainmenl El Museum El Scientific [i:OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNERS NAME: - It 1, Baptist Church -. ‘ ° -4 STREET AND NUMBER: CD

- 75 North Main Street ‘ 0 CITY OR TOWN: STATi: CODE t -- Providence Rhode Island -____ ‘ 44 a LOcION OF LEGAL_DESCRIPTION - -- - -______

- COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC: - It Pt Providence City Hall - 0 ‘C STREET AND NUMBER: - Dorrance and C Washington Streets - CD CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE C Providence ID Rhode Island 44

E RE SN1 ATION IN F XI STING SI R V EY s -: - -- -‘ *- *---. TITLEOFSURVEY, ‘Ii 1t data ai’es z Historic AmericanBuilding -4 Survey 28 photos 1774 and 1789 drwing - -C DATE OF SURVEY:!9013, 19377ii39,1962 Federal El Stale El County El Local z DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: C S Division of Prints and R PhoQf!p_ :0 STREET AND NUMBER: - Library of Congress/Mnex CITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE Washington D - D.C. ii S. 1 -4 DESCRU’TION --______

CheCk One - Ewcc Ilent El Good El F Dir El Deterioro ted El Ruins El Unexposed CONDITION Check One 7flT - /J Altered El Unaltered El Moved 3 Original Site DESCItIEIE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL iJcnown PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

This ‘lack of coherence reveals Brown’s amateur methods of design. Instead of planning the building as a whole, he gathered parts from various plates in Gibbst book and adjusted them to accommodate the building. The tower was taken almost line for line from one of the rejected designs for St. Martin’s which Gibbs illustrated in his book. A Boston master carpenter, James Summer, was brought to Providence to execute the design in wood, eliminating only the non-architectural

ornament. -

Originally painted to imitate grained stone, it would have had an even stronger resemblance to the prototype. Gibbst steeple however, was designed to mount a full Corinthian portlo Brown used instead a small one story portico from another plate, Gibbs’ design for Marybone Chapel. The first stage of the spire is square, with quoined corners, relating it to the porch on which it rests. Above this an almost temple like pavilion sits, pedimented on all four sides, with arched openings below, framed by Ionic pilasters. The third and forth stages are octagonal,- diminishing in size, with arched windows and Corinthian pilasters. Ornamental vases or urns at the angles of each stage, decrease proportionately in size, maintaining the upward movement of forms.

On the interior, the Square auditorium is divided into nave and side aisles by a row of four fluted Doric columns on each side which carry an elliptical ceiling and groins-vaulted gallery. A balcony cuts through the columns on both sides. This arrangement is a somewhat simplified version of Gibbs’ design for Marybone Cahpèl, also illustrated in his book. The broad shallow plaster vault over the nave and the groin vaulted side bays are unorn.rnented and-create a lofty expansive space, accented by their light, graceful springing from the slender Doric columns. -Fluted doric pilasters along the wall correspond to the columns and provide support for the vaults of the side bays. STATE Form 1O-300a - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR July 1969 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Providence ,, INVENTORY . NOMINATION FORM ILNATIONAL HI0TORI...<, FOR NPS USE ONLY - ENTRY NUMBER OATE -- LA1DMAIKS} - - Continuation Sheet

N urn bet all antriot - 7. Description second page -

These pilasters are carried around the east wall where they frame the puljiit and sounding board by supporting a keystoned elliptical arch molding. This monumental central feature is flanked by large double doors with eared frames topped by broken pediments. Between the pulpit and the sounding board is a Palladian window.

Several other structural changes occured throughout the nineteenth cen:ury In 1832 the high pulpit and original square pews were removed and the woodwork was painted white. In 1834 the organ, given by Nicholas Brown II, was installed. This was enlarged and rebuilt in 1884 and - 1929, but the original case and many of the original pipes have sur vived. Also in 1884 an addition was made to the east end of the building. Here a new baptistry was installed and a stained glass window inserted in the east wall of the addition. The Waterford glass chandelier is original, given by Hope Brown in 1792.

In 1957, through the interest of John D. Rockfeller Jr., the entire building was renovated and strengthened, the-white paint on the interior woodwork was changed to the original sage green, and the high pulpit and sounding board were restored along the lines of the first design. The baptistry added in 1884 was closed off from the main auditorium by means of a reconstructed Palladian window, rebuilt in the position of the original.

BOUNDARY

The First Baptist Meeting House property occupies a full block bounded on the north by the south curb of Thomas Street, on the east by the west curb of Benefit Street, on the south by the north curb of Waterman Street and on the west by the east curb of North Main Street, an area of approximately 1.1 acres. ______

-* ------CIilUD Cheek One or More as ApprrJpriate Pre-Columbian I El lath Century 18th Century El 70th Century 19th El 15th Century El 17th Ccntury El Century -

5’C CI Fl C DAT ElSI if Applicable and Known 177475

hR E AS OF StCr4I Ft CANC C Check One or Morn as Apllr.lprinte Abor iginal CI Education El PoIitiCoI El Urban Planning El Prehisturic El Engineering El Religion/Phi- El Other Specify El His tori C El ndus try losophy El AgriCulture 0 Invention El Science Architecture 0 Landscape El Sculpture El Art Architecture El Social/Human. 0 Commerce El Literature itortan Communications Military Theater El o - El Conservation Music Transportation El El - El

STATEMENT O SiGNIFICANCE -

The First Baptist Meeting House, erected in Providence Rhode Island in 1774-75, is an important example of late Georgian church design in the American colonies-. Joseph Brown, a wealthy merchant and pro- t fessor at Brown University, was in part responsible for the design, o based upon an unexecuted variant for St. Martins-in-the--Fields by -- James Gibbs. The building reflects its New England heritage in its I- frame and clapboard construction and in its originally square, meeting house plan. Although perhaps not as elegant as Christ Church in Philadelphia 1727-57, with its wealth of Baroque detail executed in brick, or as refined as Kings Chapel in Boston 1761 with its well proportioned portico and fine granite masonry, The First Baptist I- Meeting House with its well proportioned, elaborate spire retains a U, strength and dignity which makes it one of the most beautiful eighteenth century churches in America.

- - -

- HISTORY -

LIi - - In 1638 Roger Williams founded the first Baptist Church in America. For sixty years, services were held in houses of members until the sixth pastor, Pardon Tillinghast, built the first church. In 1774 when it was decided that a new church was needed, a site was chosen and Joseph Brown, amateur architect, and Jonathan Hammond, master carpenter, were sent to Boston to view churches and meetinghouses there. A committee was formed called The Charitable Baptist Society - and was granted a Charter of Incorporation giving it the power to receive and hold property. The meeting house was completed in 1775 as an 80 foot square building seating about twelve hundred persons. The design, selected by Joseph Brown, was based upon several plates from James Gibbs’ Book of Architecture, 1728, which was owned by Brown. The plan was adapted to confirm to the square, non axial building of the traditional meeting-house to disassociate it from Anglican worship. Originally an aisle ran through the middle at right angles to the side aisles with doors opening on all sides.- In 1832 the box pews were removed and the present longitudinal ones installed which changed the original orientation of the church. This was further disrupted in 1884 when an addition was made to the east end of the building. Form lO-’O5 - UNITE-D STATES DEA?VMENT OF THE IkTERIOR STATE July 196 - - NATIOftf-L PARK SERVICE Rhode Island NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY Providence 1 r,,vr0t - NOMINATION FORM !cATI0NAL FOR NPS USE ONLY LAHDILkRKS ENTRY NUMBER Cor:iriution Sheet LTE

Numb.tr n’S eritrioa 8. Significance second page

With two exceptions 1804 and 1832 Brown University’s commencement has been held in th Meetinghousc since 1776. One of these graduates, John D. Rockefeller Jr. funded a complete rehabilation in 1957-58 and the building remains today both a useful house for an active religious community and -a fine example of late Georgian church architecture.

pQ q717fl - ______

A 1 I 9 LIFRAPPIcAL t 1 FERENCES ------DcvnI:, Antoinette F., Early Homes_of Rhode Island, Richmond, Va., 1937. lslt-un, Norman H. , The Meeting House of the First Baptist Church in Pro’y:- dnac, Providence R.I., 1925. King, Henry M. , "The First Baptist Church, Providence, Rhode Island," Old Tine New England, OCXIV, No 3, January, 19!t4. Mar1cwc-, George F., Churches of Old New Ennd, New York, 1947. Morrison, hugh, Early American Architecture, New York, 1952. Pierson, WilliaE H. Jr., American Buildings and Their Architects: The Colonial -Classical Styles, Garden City, N.Y., 1970.

-- GEOCREPHICAL DATA - --_____ - -____ -- -- LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINA1LS - LATflUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PRCPERTY 0 DEFINING THE CLETER POINT OF A PROPEE] R OF LESS THAN Tnt ACRES CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE UTH LATITUDE LONGI Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds ° - - 0 NW - o . - - ° NE ‘ ° I 19.299930.4633190 SE ° - -. 0 SW ° , . 0 APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTitJaea $1, LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES ru STATE: CODE COUNTY CODE rn

STATE: CODE cOUNTY: CODE

. STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE ‘I,

- STATE CODE COUNTY: - CODE -I

E ::, i:_:___:_ Eo C NAMEANDTITLE: Patricia Heintzelman, architectural historian, Landmark Review C, Project; original form prepared by Charles cnell 1Q67 ORGANIZATION DATE -l Historic Sites Survey -- 1/20/75 STREET AND NUMBER: 0

1100 L. Street, -- - N.W. z CtTY OR TOWN: STATE - CODE U, Washington - - D.C. - 11 STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICA ION NATIONAL RFGISTER VEPIFIcATION

As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na------I hereby t egifv that this property is inCludel in the flonal Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law Lcnc-narA - National 89-665, 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion /1/2: ./j?-. in the National Register and Certify that it has been NATI0NAL HITCF4C-. evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set ,--:-LA-ND!aRKSt.

forth by the National Park service. The recommended ------Chief, Oi ‘C of Arch.toiogy aja4 l4xstor:c PD servation level of significance of this nomination is: - - National 0 State 0 Local 0

[NATIONAL HISTORIC Date -

Name LA1-.._.J r:._,,. - ATTEST- D--.---’. -/* IrzzA> Lt Title Dirc. o::p tuo

- --- - Keeper of The National Register [NATI0ITATi HrsTonIa

Date -- J-’ - -- - Date ____

-I

thrni.o-sit - UNITED STATES dept. - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE -

- - . -- - NATIONAL- SURVEY or. HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS -- - -

I. STATE - 2. THEMES. IF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE. WRITE ‘ARCH" BEFORE ThEME NO. Rhode Island Theme XX, Architecture Colonial 3. NAMES OF SITE ,-- 4. APPROX. ACREAGE

- First Baptist Meeting House - .5 acre 5. EXACT LOCATION Ceunly. tetrnship, road,, etc. If difficult Ce find. sketch on .9upplemcnterp Shea County. 75 North Vain Street, between Waterman_and Thomas_$eetsgfldçpe,Providene 6. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRESENT OWNER Alto edrnfnisfra/tr if different from owner -

- Baptist Church - 1. IMPORTANCE AND DESCRIPTION Deuribe lIYiefi; istttt makes afIr lmpo,tint o,sd total itmehss are ezltnf

The First Baptist Meeting House, designed by Joseph Brown and erected in 177k-75, is an outstanding example of the elaborate type of Late Georgian church structure that was utilized in New England cities during the last half of the 18th century. It is also the- oldest Baptist church edifice in the United States.

Joseph Brown, well-to-do merchant and amateur architect, is credited with the design of this church, which ho based largely on the

- plans of English churOhes reproduced in his personal copy of James Gibbs’ Book of rchitecture 1728.

The church was originally 80 feet situaTe, with doors on all

four sides, the n’.ain entrance being at the west end under the tower. - The main body of the church is a i-rood two-story franc structure with low- pitched roof and two tiers of round -headed windows. The imposing spire

- rests on a projecting square tôwertth a modillioned cornice and. wooden quóins at the corners like those on the ma-in structure; the tower and sDire rise to a height of 185 feet. Modeled aiter an unexecuted design plate 30 by Gibbs for Martin’s-in-the-Field, London, the features of the spire were detailed by James Sumner, a master carpenter, of Boston; -tower and spire were originally "painted with different colors," probably marbleizing. The first stage of the spire is square and open, adorned with coupled -Ionic pilasters with arched opening, entablature, aild pediment on each side while the octagonal second and third stages have arched windows and are adorned with Corinthian pilasters. Vase ornaments at the angles, proportionately- smaller at each stage, minimize the effect of the setbacks. The proportionate - - - Continued

8- RIDLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Girt bl goejrrca: girt britten of manuscrIpts and ‘ore work,

See page 3,

0- REPORTS AND STUDIES MCII!I0II but reports q,td st,,dle,, as. P-.’I’Sotady, 11.-ILlS, en. Historic American Building Survey: 28 photos, 177k and 1789 drawinggs,

c. 1900, 1937, 1939. - - -

ID. PHrnOGRAPHS.7çkll-235_92 U. CONDITION ¶2. PRESENT USE tMtiseun,fir,is. ift. Th- DATE OF VISIT A1IACHEDYeZESIDDC noD cel1ent Active Church t.17,i967

14. NAME OF RE OR ER £Sign-stflre 5. TITLE 6. DATE - /‘jyj7,’CharlesW. Snefl Historian - }Nov.1,196I -- ‘DRY MOUIIT ON AN U X Oh SHEET or FAIRLY HEAVY PAPER. IDENTIFY BY VIEW AND NAME OF THE SITE, DATE OF PHOTOGRAPH. ANO NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER. GIVE LMIOH OF NEGATIVE. IF AttACKED. ENCLOSE IN PROPER NEGATIVE ENVELOFES. IF ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED USE SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET, 1O-3t?a, AND REFER TO ITEM NtIKAQFP’ - Pbrm iG-11a - - Bept. IDA? UNITED STATES -

- - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR -

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE -

NATIONAL SURVEY OF HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS - - - -SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET - -

This sheet is to be used for giving additional information or comments, for more space for any item on the regular form, and for recording pertinent data from future studies, visitations, etc. Be brief, but use as many Supplement Sheets as necessary. When items are continued they should be listed, if possible, in numerical order of the items. All informatidn given should be headed by the item number, its name, and the word cont’d, as, Description and Importance cont’d 6. Page 2.

STATE NAMES OF SITE -

Rhode Island - First Baptist Meeting House -

7. Continued:

height of the stages and their transition from square to octagon is very ably

treated. Stairs in the tower lead to the galleries. -

The interior, which was lengthened during the 19th century, bears a strong resemblance to two of James Gibbs’ churches, Marylebone Chapel and St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields. The square auditorium is divided into a nave with single aisles by rows of four giant, fluted Done columns on each side. These columns are broken by a gallery around thc roar and both sides. A shallow plaster vault over the nave meets groined vaults over the gallery bays. The east end was originally flat. The fine Palladian window set with clear glass was moved backward in 188k by the addition of a small channel. Despite the loss of original pews and pulpit and an interesting second gallery at the west end, where Negro slaves used to sit, the interior preserve most of the original fine detail of windows, doors, a-nd cornice. Over the nave still hangs a beautiful cut-glass chandelier, which was brought from England

in 1792. -

In 1956 committees were appointed by the church to study ways and means to restore the building. A gift from John D. Rockefeller, Sr., a ‘o’m University alumnus, made possible a complete rehabilitation and

restoration. This work, done under the supervision of Perry, Shaw and - Hepburn, architects, and Antoinette F. Downing. was completed in 1957-58 and was largely concentrated on the east end, where the baptistry, added in 188k, was closed off from the main auditorium by means of a reconstructed Palladian window, which was rebuilt in the position of the original window. The high pulpit was also reconstructed along the lines of the original design and the white paint was replaced by sage, the original interior color. r .. - .

1’8tTh - - PbrmeSpi. rIM - UNITED STATES - DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - -

-. - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE -

-- -- - NATIONAL -SURVEY OF HISTORIC. SITES AND BUILDINGS - ---

- SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET -

This sheet icto be used for giving additional information or comments, for more space for any item on the regular form, and for recording pertinent data from future studies, visitations, etc. Be brief, but use as many Supplement Sheets as necessary. When items are continued they should be listed, if possible, in numerical order of the items. All information given should be headed by the item number, its name, and the word cont’d, as,

6. De2cxiption and Importance cont’d .. . Page 3. -

STAIr - NAMES IF SITE -

Rhode Island First Baptist Meeting House -

8. References:

-Hugh Mo±rison, Early American Architecture New York, 1952, 461-462, figs. 385-86; Aymar Thnbury, II, Early American Churches New York, 1914, 66-6 - Elise Lathrop, Old New Jiland Churches Rutland, Vermont, 1938, 136, 140-41; George F0 Marlowe, Churches or Old New England New York, 1947, 117-123; Edward F. Bines, Old Historic Churches of AmerIca New York, 1936, 82-84; James- G. VanDerpool, "Historical DeveloplEnt ol’ Architecture in the U.S.A., 1632-1912," N.P.s. Ms., 1966, 82; ; Rhode Island, A Guide to the &naflest State American Guide Series Boston, 1937, 264-265; Antoinette F. Dowthng, Early Homes of Rhode Island Richmond, Va., 1937, 271-216; &own Alumni Monthly Vol.58 Jkw, 1958. Henry M. King, "The First Baptist Church, Providence, Rhode Island, Old Time New England, OCCV, No. -3,- Jan. 1944, 39-43; Norman N. Isham, The Meeting House of the First Baptist Church in Providence Providence, 1925. - ____Chc.ccjrjjadSjjQ_j/0______

Eonfli’13t7 UNITED STATES ‘Sei DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

- - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

- NATIONAL SURVEY OF HISTORIC -SITES 4ND BUILDINGS - - .-

-- 2-THEMES. ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE. WRITE ‘ARCH BEFORE THEME NO. I. STATE -- IF Rhode Island - DC,_Deve1opraet_of the English ColonIes, 1700-1775 3, NAMErS OF SITE 4. APPROX. ACREAGE First BaptitMeetingouse 5. EXACT LOCATiON County. township, roads, etc. If difficult to flirt. sketch ass &cjIjilesacn fury SlIce! -

_Lios&Matraetbetwaetjaterni-and-Thcmag2treeta,_PnSenco . - 6. NAME ANU ADDRESS OF PRESENT OWNER Q-11w cu!misrjsr:tor If diffcre,It Ira Sn USD11 cc -

Church property - 7. IMPORTANCE AND DESCRIPTION Iksrrifuc lIt/ciTy ,u hat nIches site important and what eaIctiIi are tstas’i Both m’chitocturally and historically, the Finit Etptiat mceting+ouse is one of New Thgiond’s rIlcvt notat.slo public buildings. Itu origins date £rcrn tho establish- merit of the first flaptiElt organtznticn in Ameri,ca, founded in Providence in 3.639, although the present structure was not built until 1774-75. The church was dedicated In May2 1775, a Let’; weeks after the outbreak of the Revolution, but in design and feeling the structure belongs to the Colonial period.

When the congregation decided to build a nw church, a conrnittee of its nenber’s tjas sent to Boston to study churches and neetinghouses and record their forms and dimensions. Joseph Brohn of the famous Providence fa’rdl.y, and wall-to-do iervhant and uaateur architect in his own right, is crodited with the dosigri of tha church. This ho based on an unexecuted design for St. Mart.in’s-in-the-Ficlds, London. and on the plans of other English churches reproduced in his personal copy of Gibbs’ Book Lrchitcta. The church as originally buiLt was 3O feat scinare, -;-ith a door on each side and the tiaxi entrance uar the a-uLn3 on the ‘est eud A gabled extension with a pedimented norbico on the west end housed the stairs to the tower and spire, which rose to a }teiØt of ]S5 feet. The elaborate spire i-;as the tiorlc of James Sumner, a taster c.arpcnter of Eoston. An unusual feature of the body of the church are the two tiers of round-:eaded iindows. The low-pitched roof and the squareness of the structure coRthine to gice the church an aspect of spacioutness and dignity. The interipr, all s’thite, is trimmed in wood. Gafleries run along etch side, suptvztod by giant Doris coitvrrna. Over the Live bays on

each side are groined vaults which join the shallow vault over the nave. -

- The interior was extended in the 19th citury, and the original pewa, pulpit nd slave gallozy are gone, hut otherwise the raieetin house has suffered 1ttlc altera tion. Happily it has survived to £flu5trate the uaturity of native architecture in the last yearn of Colonial America then the country otood on the threabrid of _4ndpdcor__Ccnt!43-- 8. BIDLTOGRAPI4ICAL REF ERENCES Giw Tirs! sources; yire lw-atiosl of masunoerup’! cad rare works Antr Finbury, Ear]:i An-.n’ican Churches New Yox4c, 1914; George F. Marlcwê 2flahes of Q New Enl New Yoric, 1947; Hugh Morrison, F1v MprLr*’n Athitet.ure ‘tVew York ii5; Eclwant F. Rines, 9jç tjjtoric Qtrh of kcterta Mew York, 1936.

9. REPORTS AND STUDIES Aleutian best reports and studies. as, NI’S study, 11.-ills, etc. - - Historic American Buildingu $urvey zi! photos c. 1900, 1937, 1939, and 5ncLud1ng

copies of drawings of 1774 and 17C9 . -

10. PHOTOGRAPHS’ - 11. CONDITION - 12. PRESENT USE MuseIasa,faroa, etc. - 13. DATE OF VISIT ATTACHED;__vtsJ NO Good______

14, NAME OF RECORDER Signal Ire IS. TITLE IS. DATE - - J

-__ DRY MOUNT Oil AN 8 X IOJ SHEET OF FAIRLY HEAVY PAPER. IDENI TEY DY VIEW AND NAME OF TIlE ShE. DATE 01’ OhIO FIGHAPII. AND NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER ShAh LATION OF NEGATIVE. IF ATrACHED. ETSELOSE ti PROPER NEGATIVE ENVELOPES. OF ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED USE SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET, 1O-317a, ANI REfER TO ITEM NUMBER - - I., flm - ‘ - -5--- Fona 10317a SepE.’1957 UNITED STATES -

- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR -

- NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

- -. -.- - NATIONAL SURVEY OF* HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS. -: -- - SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET -

This sheet is to be used for giving additions-I information or comments; for more space for any item on the regular form, and for recording’ pertinent data from future studies, visitations, etc. Be brief, but use as many Supplement Sheets as necessary. When items are continued they should be listed, if possible, in nunierical order of the items. All information given should be headed by the item number, its name, and the word cont’d, as,

6. Description and Importance cont’d ... -

STATE - - j NAMES OF SITE Rhode bland First. Bcptist Meetinghoume

7. Importance and DescriptIon cont’cl - - -- -

In 1956 comtittes were appointed by the church to study ways and meim to the building. restore A gift of 500,000 from Hr. John B, Rockefeller, Jr., rna4e oos3ible complete rehabilItation end rtntontion which, it is estimated, another will add at least hundn’4 yetrs to the life and use oX the Uoctinghouse, The nta.lor chnnpe has been thG reconstruction of the high pulpit ‘t’d.th sounding boaxi on the original design. basis of the

V. *. OPI$NMCIIT PPII.TOIG CFFICZ Ia/4O2o."l ______L

Form 10-ti? - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

- NATIONAL SURVEY OF HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS. -- . - - --

1. STATE 2. THEMES. IF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE, WRITE ARCH DEFORE THEME NO. Is land IXDevelopmentofthe En glish Colonies, 1700-17? 5

3, NAMES OF SITE - . - 4. APPROX. ACREAGE -

First Baptist Meetinghouse - 5. EXACT LOCATION Co,:nty. township, roads, etc. If difficult to find. sketch on Supplementary Sheet -

- 6. NAME AND ADDRESS OF PRESENT OWNER A/so adm/ni,/rator if differenifrom owner -

- Church prone rtv - 7, IMPORTANCE AND DESCRIPTION teltribe b?/’j7y trhat II;ake3 site Importaut and tim! scum/no ore cr/un! - Both architecturally and historically, the First Baptist meetinghouse is one of New England1s most notable public buildings. Its origins date from the establish ment of the first Baptist organization in America, founded in Providence in 1639, although the present structure was not built until 1774-75. The church was dedicated in May, 1775, a few weeks after the outbreak of the Revolution, but in design and feeling the structure belongs to the Colonial period0

When the congregation decided to build a new church, a co!radttee of its members was sent to Boston to study churches and meetinghouses and record their forms and dimensions. Joseph Brown of the famous Providence family, and well-to-do merchant and amateur architect in his own right, is credited with the design of the church. This he based on an unexecuted design for St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Londcn, and on the p].ans of other English churches reproduced in his personal cony of Gibbs’ Book of Architecture. The church as originally built was 80 feet square, with a door on each side and the main entrance under the spire on the west end, A gabled extension with a pedimented portico on the west end housed the stairs to the tower and spire, which rose to a height of 185 feet0 The elaborate spire was the work of James Sumner, a master carpenter of Boston. An unusual feature of the body of the church are the two tiers of round-headed windows. The low-pitched roof and the squareness of the structure combine to give the church an aspect of spaciousness and dignity. The interior, all white, is trimmed in wood. Galleries - run along each side, supported by giant Doric columns. Over the five bays on each side are groined vaults which join the shallow vault over the nave,

The interior was extended in the 19th century, and the original pews, pulpit and slave gallery are gone, but otherwise the meetinghouse has suffered little altera tion. Happily it has survived to illustrate the maturity of native architecture in the last years of Colonial America when the country stood on the threshold of -_indecandence. 8. DIHLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Glee best sources: ire location of rnouuscrip, and rare works Aymar &bury, Early American Churches Mew York, 1914; George F. Marlowe, Churches of Old New England New York, 1947; Hugh Morrison, Early American Architecture Tiew York 1952; Edward F. Hines, Old Historic Churches of America New York, 1936

9, REPORTS AND STUDIES 3lention boa rsportt a,,dstudies, a,, NPSaluds. lIiI 132. etc. Historic American Buildings Survey 28 photos c. 1900, 1937, 1939, and incftuding

copies of drawings of 1774 and 1789. -

ID. PH0FOGRAPHS II, CONDITION 12. PRESENT USE PIn.eIim,farnl, etc. 13. DATE OF VISIT

ATTACHED: YES NOD - Good - Church 8/8/58

14. NAME OF RECORDER Signature IS. TITLE 16. DATE

DRY MOUNT ON AN 8 X Ion iIErr OF FAIRLY HEAVY PAPEI1 IDENTIFY BY VIEW AND NAME OF TIlE SITE, DATE or PhOTOGRAPH. ArID NAME OF PHOTOGRAPHER. ChAr LOCATION OF NCGATIVE. IF ATTACII:D. ENCLOSE IN PROPER NEGATIVE ENVELOPES. 5F ADDITIONAL SPACE IS NEEDED USE SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET, 1O-311a. AND REFER TO ITFkI NIIMPmn I.

Font 10-8110. Sept: 9957 - - UNITED STATES

- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - -

- NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

. . -: . :. NATIONAL SURVEY OF HISTORIC SITES- AND BUILDINGS - .- SUPPLEMENTARY SHEET

This sheet is fo be used for giving additional information or comments, for more space for any item on the regular form, and for recording pertinent data from future studies, visitations, etc. Be brief, but use as many Supplement Sheets as necessary. When items are continued they should be listed, if possible, in numerical order of the items. All information given should be headed by the item number, its name, and the word cont’d, as, 6. Description and Importance eont’d..

STATE - NAMES OF SITE

Rhode_Island - First_Baptist_Meetinghouse

7. Importance and Description contld

In 1956 comm’ttes were appointed by the church to study ways and means to restore the building. A gift of $500,000 from Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., made possible complete rehabilitation and restoration which, it is estimated, will add at loast another hundred years to the life and use of the i’leetinghousc. The major change has been the reconstruction of the high pulpit with sounding board on the basis of the original design. *1

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UNIJED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR -----S FORM 10,501 A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 6/72 / NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM - --

Type all entries - attach to or en close with photograph, -, . . % 4 4; 1. NAME COMMON AND/OR HISTORiC JMUMERIC CODE Assigned by NPS First Baptist Meeting Rhode Island 44 kirst Baptist Meeting House House I Providence 007 2. LOCATION STATE COUNTY TOWN Rhode Island Providence I Providence STREET AND NUMBER

75 North Main Street -

3. PHOTO REFERENCE - PHOTO CREDIT - DATE NEGATIVE FILED At I. - Norman S. Watson undated, verified 1974 First Baptist Meeting House, + - - IProvidence, Rhode Island 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, Etc.

I- -

Interior, view of east end - -

- - GPO 032,009

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* ---. i-i UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR :Ci1 FORM 10.301 A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 8/72 -- :-! - NATIOHAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - - PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM Type all entries - attach toot enclose with photograph ------=---- F. NAME NUMERIC Ao1gnod by CQ,’4MOI’4rirsc Bantist. Church AND/OR HISTORIC CODE Np$ First Baptist Church Rhode Island C44 Providence 007

- 2, LOCATION - STATE COUIoTV jTOI

Rhode Island - Providence I Providruca ------.--.- STREET AND NUMBER --1 75 North Main Street - I- ‘ 2 ‘ - -

3. PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT DATE NEGATIVE FILED AT

Norman S. Watson undated, verifed 1974 First Baptist Church, F. Providence 1±hode Island

4. IDENTIFICATION - * F

DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC. - *

-‘ -: View of church from the west. -

- ‘4 Li

-‘0 GPO 932.009 *

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Type all entries - attach to or en close with photograph 1. NAME COMMON AND/OR HISTORIC NUMERIC CODE Aufgned by N?S First Baptist Meeting House First Baptist Meeting Hous Rhode Islar-d 44 - Providence 007 - ¶4 2. LOCATION - -Ii --ci STATE ‘- COUNTY TOWN - Rhode Island - Providence Providence ‘a STREET AND NUMBER

-il 75 North Main Street- - - 3. PHOTO REFERENCE "F - PHOTO CREDIT DATE NEGATIVE FILED AT Patricia Heintzelman October, 1974 fHistoric Sites Survey, NPS

j I 4. IDENTIFICATION - i DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC.

F - View of organ and west end of church. ‘‘ - - IF- - - 4 St 4- ‘-‘I - A. ‘ - - - -+ :A S --C

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N’ATIONAL REGISTER OF HtTJRIC PLACES -

Type all entries - attach to or enclose wilt, rziap

t P -NAME. v :: ---: -. -T.v - o COMMON: First Ba tist Meeting House - AND/OR HISTORIC: First Baptist Meeting House - H LOGATWN- .- - - .-. - - - STREET AND NUN BER: LI 75 North Main Street CITY OR TOWN: Providence STATE; CODE COUNTY: CODE

Rhode Island - 44 Providence 007

-:. .::.+-- -: .- .-t.c--S:: ---- : 2. .. -- z :FMAP2REF.ERENcE - SOURCE; 75I U.S.G.S. Series, Providence Quadrangle - w SCALE: 1:24000 DATE: 1957, photorevised 1970 -

.: -- -. r.-- -- .IREQUIREMENT:5....::.:: v - -- --I-- - - - TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundories where required. 2. North arrow-

3. Lotitude and longitude reference. -

* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-148/1441 3-I

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Earm -:. i,&i Rev 7-72

NATIONAL REGISTER OF H$RiC PLACES_-

.4.ncnp Type all entries - attach to or enclose wita map,

0 cO:.McN: First Baptist Meeting House O/oR HISTORIC: First Baptist Meeting House - I JTLOCA1 ION STREET AND NUN BEN: LI 75 North Main Street CiTY OR TOWN: Providence I STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE

In Rhode Island 44 Providence 007 z 1rw.-JRcFeRr CE SOURCE: U.s_c_S. 7.5’ Series, Providence Quadrangle Ui SCALE: 1:24000 DATE: 1957, photorevised 1970 LU I ::REQUREMENTS -- -- -. - -. - 2--Y - i--y.i In TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS I. Property broundories whore requited. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-148/1441 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 2oA’;I 10,207 A NATWNAL PaR< SERVICE NATOt4AL REGLSTEa OF HLSTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM t Type all entries - attach toot enclose with photograph I. NAME COMMON AND/OR NISTORIC NUMERIC CODE Aa.ined by NPSJ Rhode Island 44 First Baptist Meeting House First Baptist Meeting Hous Providence 007- I

2. LOCATION STATE ICOTV TOWN 1 Rhode Island - Providence I Providence -j S TRE CT ArID N WI 0 EN

75 North i’lain -crEc -, 1’ 3. E-IjTC REFERENCE PNOTO CREDIT DATE NESAY’ -:Z FLED AT Patricia Heintzelraan October, 1974 ista-ri.c’ Sites Survey, NPS

4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.

View of organ and west end of church. - -

I- - 1 -1 - GPO 93Z.O09 I - - - .;.-,r’r :-r-’"r-- .

t - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FORM I0’SOl A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE le/Yap NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM -

Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph 1. NAME NUMERIC CODE Assigned by CONMONrirsc Baptist* Church AND/OR HISTORIC NI’S First Baptist Church Rhode Island 44 Providence 007 2. LOCATION STATE COUNTY TOWN Rhode Island Providence Providence STREET AND NUMBER

75 North Main Street -

3. PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT bATE NEGATIVE FILED AT Norman SI Watson lundated, verifed 1974 First Baptist Church, I Providence, Rhode Island 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC.

View of church from the west.

GPO 932.009

- -- --

I ------UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FORM tOSOI A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 16/721 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES -i PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM

Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photograph 1. NAME COMMON AND/OR HISTORIC NUMERIC CODE Assigned by bPS Rhode Island First Baptist Meeting jFirst Baptist Meeting House 44 House Providence 007 2. LOCATION

STATE COUNTY TOWN - - Rhode Island Providence * Providence STREET AND NuMBER I 75 North Main Street - - -

-‘I- . PHOTO REFERENCE PS4OTO CHEDIT DATE NEGATIVE FILED AT Norman S. Watson undated, verified 1974 !it.st Baptist Meeting House, Rhode Island -

-4. IDENTIFICATION - - -1 DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. -

Interior, view of east end

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