First Baptist Church (Farmville, Virginia) facts for kids
|
First Baptist Church
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Front and southern side of the church
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 100 S. Main St., Farmville, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | .262 acres (0.106 ha) |
| Built | c. 1855-1895 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000046 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | February 27, 2013 |
The First Baptist Church in Farmville, Virginia, is a very old and important church. It's known for its beautiful design and its role in a big moment in American history. This church was a key meeting place during the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, people were working to end segregation in schools. Segregation meant that Black and white students went to separate schools. The church helped bring people together to fight for equal education for everyone.
The church building was constructed between 1855 and 1895. It has a special style called Late Gothic Revival. This style looks a bit like old European castles or cathedrals. The church was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site.
Contents
A Look at the Church Building
The First Baptist Church is a one-story building made of brick. It sits on a full basement. The design is rectangular, which is a common shape for churches.
Special Features of the Church
- Tower: Right in the middle of the front of the church, there's a tall, square tower.
- Windows: The windows are shaped like pointed arches. They have special glass that is either stained (colored) or milk-glass (a cloudy white glass).
- Main Entrance: The front door is a double door. Above it, there's a pointed arch window called a transom.
- Inside: If you go inside, you can still see the original wooden pews where people sit. There's also special wood paneling on the lower part of the walls called beaded board wainscoting.
The Church's Role in History
The First Baptist Church played a very important part in the desegregation movement. This was a time when people worked to end racial separation in public places, especially schools.
Fighting for Equal Schools
In the 1950s and 1960s, many schools in the United States were segregated. This meant Black students and white students went to different schools. Often, the schools for Black students were not as good.
The First Baptist Church became a safe and important place for people to meet. They discussed how to make schools fair for all students. These meetings helped lead to big changes in Prince Edward County. They were part of the larger Civil Rights Movement that fought for equal rights for all Americans.
See also
