First Baptist Church - Newton, MA - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

In the Center of Newton, at the corner of Center Street and Beacon Street, is the First Baptist Church, a solid, stone structure with many interesting features.

The church was designed by Boston architect John Lyman Faxon (1815-1918), and built in 1888 (the cornerstone has 1887). The web site for the congregation states that the church remains essentially as it was when it was first built, and, thus, is a great example of a late-Victorian style church.

The church is made of brown stone - light stone with dark stone surrounding the windows, along the arches, and as stripes. The roof is peaked with shingling. The building has a side extension. The front of the church has a porch feature across as a major feature, with a semicircular paned windwow above it.

The dominant feature to the church is a tall, octagonal sided bell tower. It is named the "America" Bell Tower. Rev. Samuel F. Smith, the author to the popular song, "America," was minister for this church from 1842 to 1854. In 1932, on the 100th Anniversary of the writing of "America," the bell tower was rededicated in honor of the minister (and the song). It contains an 11-bell chime installed in 1899, made by the Meneely Bell Company of Troy, NY. Inside, the church has an organ that is a union of the original Hook organ installed in 1902 with an E. and G. G. Hook built for another church in 1865.

The congregation was first established in 1780 near the present location of the church. They maintain close ties with the American Baptist Churches, USA.

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1887 Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: American Baptist Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 10:30 AM Street address of Church: 848 Beacon Street Newton, MA United States of America 02459 Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed

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