Congdon Street Baptist Church facts for kids
|
Congdon Street Baptist Church
|
|
|
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
|
(2012)
|
|
 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Built | 1874 |
| Architect | Hartshorn & Wilcox |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Part of | College Hill Historic District (ID70000019) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000032 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 21, 1971 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 10, 1970 |
The Congdon Street Baptist Church is a very old and important church in Providence, Rhode Island. It is located on Congdon Street in the College Hill area. This church has a special history because it was started by and for African American people. In its early days, the church community was also known as the African Union Meeting and Schoolhouse.
Contents
About the Church
Its History
The church community began in 1819. At first, they met in a building close to where the church stands today. The land for this first building was given to them by Moses Brown. Sadly, in 1869, the first building was torn down by white neighbors without the church's knowledge or permission.
The current church building was constructed between 1874 and 1875. It is a single-story building designed in the Italianate style. This style often includes decorative elements that look like they came from Italy.
Building Design
The church has special wooden decorations on its roof edges and pointed gables. These decorations look like brick patterns. The windows along the long sides of the building are tall and have a rounded top. The front of the church, which faces the street, has a large window made of three parts that form a round arch.
The church also has a square tower. Each level of the tower repeats the same decorative wooden patterns found on the roof. The building is built into a hill, which means you can see a full brick basement below the main level. You enter the church through this basement. Inside, the church has simple Victorian-style woodwork and stenciled designs on the walls.
The architects who designed this beautiful church were Hartshorn & Wilcox. One of the architects, Hartshorn, had worked with a famous architect named Thomas A. Tefft. Because of this, the Congdon Street Baptist Church looks similar to many of Tefft's designs.
A Special Protest
In December 1968, something very important happened at the church. Sixty-five Black students from Brown University marched from College Hill to the Congdon Street Baptist Church. They stayed inside the church for three days. This was a peaceful protest. The students were showing their concern because only a small number of Black students were allowed into the university. They also felt there was not enough support for Black students once they were there.
National Recognition
The Congdon Street Baptist Church is very important for its architecture and history. Because of this, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it is recognized as a special historical place in the United States. The church is also part of the larger College Hill Historic District.
Gallery
-
View from the west in 2012
-
View from the south in 2021, showing the deterioration of the exterior
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia Bautista de Congdon Street para niños
