The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named the century old First Baptist Church in New Bedford, which has served the community for over 180 years, a National Treasure. With this designation, the National Trust will use its more than 65 years of preservation expertise to advise the congregation and partners on appropriate preservation and adaptive reuse options.

Built in 1829, First Baptist Church is the last of three churches on the City of New Bedford’s official seal left standing, but it is now threatened with considerable deterioration. With support from the City and the Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE), First Baptist Church has a new partnership opportunity to share their building with Your Theatre – a volunteer community theatre group in need of space.

“The shared use partnership between First Baptist Church and Your Theatre demonstrates the power of preservation and community engagement to protect our most important historic places,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “This innovative collaboration can be seen as a national model for solving these types of threats to historic places of worship.”

First Baptist Church is also recognized internationally for its former member, Lt. Henry Martyn Robert, who created the ‘Robert’s Rules of Order,’ a set of procedures to guide and run a meeting effectively. Several pastors of the church were also active participants in the Abolitionist movement and other anti-slavery organizations.

“The historic significance of the First Baptist Church reaches far beyond New Bedford,” said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. “It is the place where the internationally adopted rules of parliamentary procedure, Robert's Rules of Order, were first promulgated. The preservation, rehabilitation, and creative reuse of this building will not only preserve history but it will help enhance New Bedford’s cultural district and promote our creative economy.”

The National Trust has awarded First Baptist Church two grants over the last year to help fund the feasibility study and business plan. A third National Trust grant has enabled the congregation and the theatre group to travel to Cambridge, MA, to meet with another congregation and theatre group to learn more from their experience in shared use.

Public announcement of this new National Treasure will be made tonight at 6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Special guests include the Mayor of New Bedford, Jon Mitchell and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Also in attendance will be WHALE, Your Theatre, and representatives and members of First Baptist Church, Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford and others.

Learn more about First Baptist Church National Treasure by visiting, www.savingplaces.org

About the National Treasures Program

National Treasures are a portfolio of highly-significant historic places throughout the country where the National Trust makes a long-term commitment to find a preservation solution. As the presenting partner of the National Treasures program, American Express has pledged $6 million to help promote and enable the preservation of these cultural and historic places. For more information, visit www.savingplaces.org.