Freewill Baptist Church-Peoples Baptist Church-New Hope Church facts for kids
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Freewill Baptist Church-Peoples Baptist Church-New Hope Church
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 45 Pearl St., Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1868 |
| Architect | Nathan Tarlton |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000925 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 13, 2003 |
The Freewill Baptist Church—Peoples Baptist Church—New Hope Church is a very old building in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was built in 1868 and is located at 45 Pearl Street. This building is a great example of Italianate architecture, which is a special style of building design. It is also important because it was once owned by an African-American church group.
This historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in September 2002. It was also listed on the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in January 2002. More recently, the building was known as the Portsmouth Pearl. This was a place for arts and culture. It has hosted art shows, plays, and events. As of August 2025, the building was listed for sale.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
This historic building is just outside the main downtown area of Portsmouth. You can find it where Pearl Street and Hanover Street meet. It is a two-story building made of wood. It has a pointed roof and its outside walls are covered with clapboard siding.
The front of the building faces Pearl Street. It has three sections, with the main entrance in the middle. The entrance is shaped like a rounded arch. The windows on the front are tall and also have rounded arches. They are often grouped in pairs. Above some windows, there is a special diamond-shaped stained glass design.
The Church Tower
A short tower rises from the roof right above the entrance. The bottom part of the tower is smooth and has decorative columns at its corners. Above this is the bell tower section. It has rounded arch openings where bells would be. The very top of the tower is an eight-sided steeple.
A Look at the Church's History
The church building was first built in 1857. It was originally shorter and did not have the tower. In 1868, the building was made larger. About 10 feet were added to the front of the church. This made it the beautiful building we see today.
This church is a wonderful example of Italianate architecture used for religious buildings. It is also very important for another reason. It was the first church building in New Hampshire to be owned by a church group made up mostly of African-American people.
Who Owned the Church?
The church was first built for a group called the Freewill Baptist congregation. They were also the ones who made the building bigger in 1868. In 1915, an African-American group bought the building. This group had formed in 1893 and was called the People's Baptist Church. This was a big moment for Portsmouth. It was the first time an African-American congregation owned a church building in the city.
The People's Baptist Church owned the building until 1984. Then, they moved to a new location. A very famous civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr., even preached at this church on October 26, 1952.
Images for kids
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The Freewill Baptist Church-Peoples Baptist Church-New Hope Church building.
See also
