St. John's Church - Portsmouth, New Hampshire - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

St. John's Church was built 1807 and was the first brick church in New Hampshire. The church was built after an earlier church at the site was destroyed in a fire in 1806. The church was designed by noted architect Alexander Parris and built by James Nutter. The church was one of Alexander Parris' early works with later works in Boston including St. Paul's Church on Tremont Street and the Faneuil Hall (Quincy) Market. He also became known as an engineer of docks and seawalls at the Boston and Portsmouth Navy Yards.

St. John's Church is brick structure measuring 61 by 88 feet using predominately Flemish bond for the brickwork. The church feature a central square brick tower surmounted by a weathervane.

The interior of the church features trompe l'oeil paintings in the form of simulated bas-reliefs created by Daniel M. Shepard of Salem, Massachusetts in 1848 and were carefully restored in 1951. The pews in the church are mostly slip pews installed in 1867 replacing the original box pews.

The churchyard has about 100 marked graves and 10 underground vaults located at the street level. New interments are rare now and only with expressed permission from the Vestry.

The church is in excellent condition and continues to serve its active parish.

Street address: 105 Chapel St. Portsmouth, New Hampshire County / Borough / Parish: Rockingham Year listed: 1978 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1800 - 1824 Historic function: Religion Current function: Religion Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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