Huntington Street Baptist Church

The Huntington Street Baptist Church is a historic Baptist Church meeting house at 29 Huntington Street in New London, Connecticut. Built in 1843, it is one of the last major examples of Greek Revival architecture to be built in the city. It also exemplifies a conflict between conservative and liberal Christian congregations, having been built by a Universalist congregation and then purchased by a competing Baptist one. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1] As of 2017, the church is still in use as a Baptist house of worship.[2]

Huntington Street Baptist Church
Huntington Street Baptist Church
Location29 Huntington St., New London, Connecticut
Coordinates41°21′12″N 72°5′57″W
Area0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built1843 (1843)
ArchitectBishop, John
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.82004377[1]
Added to NRHPApril 12, 1982

Architecture and history

The Huntington Street Baptist Church is located west of downtown New London, on the east side of Huntington Street south of Jay Street. It is prominently visible to the surrounding area, due to its siting on a large granite outcrop. It is a single-story brick structure, its exterior finished in stucco and covered by a gabled roof. The front facade is dominated by a projecting portico, which has six fluted Corinthian columns rising to an entablature and fully pedimented gable with dentil moulding. The facade behind the portico is plain except for the entrance at the center. A two-stage square tower rises above the portico. The interior retains many original Greek Revival details, many of which are based on close copies of designs published in pattern books by Minard Lafever.[3]

The church's construction has its origin in a religious conflict within New London's Baptist congregations. During the 1830s, an increasing number of congregants, as well as at least one minister, began adopting Universalist views, which conservative elements within the Baptist leadership considered heresy. Jabez Swan, a fiery opponent of Universalism, led a revival in 1842 that prompted the Universalists to split. This church was built the following year, sited deliberately to have the highest church steeple in the city, and to overlook the city's Baptist churches. Its builder was John Bishop, a member of the Universalist congregation.[3]

The cost of the church was an extreme burden on the Universalist congregation, and its members were unhappy with the preaching of the minister, Thomas Greenwood. They were forced to sell the building in 1849; the buyer was a new Baptist congregation led by Jabez Swan, formed by members of the First Baptist Church.[3]


See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. www.yesnewlondon.net
  3. "NRHP nomination for Huntington Street Baptist Church". National Park Service. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
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