African Meeting House
- Architect
- Asher Benjamin
- Style
- Federal
- City
- Boston, MA
- Collection
- federal boston
Built in 1806, the African Meeting House is the oldest black church edifice still standing in the United States, raised by a Baptist congregation led by Reverend Thomas Paul after Black Bostonians who worshipped in white churches were confined to the balconies and denied a vote. The Federal-style building, attributed to architect Asher Benjamin, later served as a synagogue until 1972 before being purchased for the Museum of African American History, and stands today in Beacon Hill next to the Abiel Smith School.
the building
The basement school. The congregation also established a school inside the meeting house, at first holding classes in its basement before the building next door was built for that purpose.
the style
The meeting house is attributed to architect Asher Benjamin and built in the Federal style.
More on Federalsignificance
The African Meeting House is a National Historic Landmark and a listed and contributing property on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is the oldest surviving Black church building in the country.
nearby
- Charles Sumner House
- Nichols House Museum
- First Harrison Gray Otis House
- Old West Church
- William C. Nell House
- Second Harrison Gray Otis House