Metropolitan Baptist Church (New York City) facts for kids
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Metropolitan Baptist Church
(New York Presbyterian Church) |
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(2014)
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 151 W. 128th St. Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1884-85, 1889-90 |
| Architect | John Rochester Thomas (chapel and lecture room, 1884-85) Richard R. Davis (sanctuary, 1889-90) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003385 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1982 |
The Metropolitan Baptist Church is a historic building in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It is located at 151 West 128th Street, right on the corner of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.
This church building was first constructed for the New York Presbyterian Church. It was built in two main parts. The first part, including the chapel and lecture room, was finished between 1884 and 1885. It was designed by an architect named John Rochester Thomas. The larger main church area, called the sanctuary, was built a few years later, from 1889 to 1890. Richard R. Davis designed this part. An interesting fact is that a tall tower was planned for the corner, but it was never built.
In 1918, the Metropolitan Baptist Church bought the building. This church group was started in 1912 and was one of the first African American churches in Harlem. They moved to this building from their previous location on West 138th Street.
The Metropolitan Baptist Church building is very important. It was named a New York City Landmark in 1981. A year later, in 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States.
Church Design and Look
Even though the church was built in two stages, it looks like one complete design. The outside of the building is made of granite stone. It mixes two old styles of architecture: Romanesque Revival and Gothic Revival.
The building has two and a half stories. It has a very large slate roof that is shaped like a part of a cone. The front of the church has many beautiful stained glass windows. These windows are tall and narrow, with pointed arches at the top, which is typical of the Gothic style. On the west side of the building, there are thin, decorative towers with pointed tops called finials. People often describe the church's overall look as "handsome" and "monumental," meaning it looks grand and impressive.
