First Baptist Church Open House
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Join PNC for an open house at High Point’s First Baptist Church to explore one of the city’s most compelling adaptive reuse opportunities
When: Sunday, October 25 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Where: 405 N. Main Street, High Point, NC
What: Heading to High Point for Preservation North Carolina’s Annual Conference? Arrive early for our First Baptist Church Open House! Before you join us at Cohab.Space for the Welcome Reception, stop by First Baptist Church on North Main Street for a special open house and a firsthand look at one of High Point’s most compelling adaptive reuse opportunities.
Why: At the prompting of local community leaders, Preservation North Carolina brought together the City of High Point and Partners for Sacred Places to explore how this historic church complex might be preserved, reimagined, and given new life. Founded on the site in 1859, First Baptist is High Point’s oldest congregation and an important part of the city’s Main Street legacy. The historic complex includes grand brick buildings, educational spaces, a commercial kitchen and dining areas, a stage, ample parking, and independently controlled HVAC systems — all offering intriguing possibilities for new uses.
Now owned by the City of High Point and located at the heart of an emerging entertainment district, First Baptist sits among new residences, restaurants, businesses, and the future Greenway. The open house offers a chance to see the property for yourself and consider what its next chapter could look like.
The conversation and panel discussion continues on Tuesday, 2:30-3:30, with the Southwest Renewal Foundation of High Point, Partners for Sacred Places, Belk Architecture, C.T. Wilson, NC SHPO, and Rehab Builders, Inc.
Substitute Materials in Practice – Saving First Baptist and Adaptive Re-use!
Historic houses of worship have long served as anchors for their communities, but many now face the challenge of finding sustainable new uses while preserving their historic character. Learn how grantmaking through the National Fund for Sacred Places helps congregations reimagine these treasured buildings through preservation and adaptive reuse, with First Baptist Church serving as a compelling local case study.