Description of Historic Place

The Old Free Baptist Church is a small, white, wooden structure built in the modest classical style typical of a rural religious meeting house. It is located on a mature lot near the curb of Juniper Street in Florenceville-Bristol. A graveyard is visible at the rear of the building.

Heritage Value

The Old Free Baptist Church is designated a Local Historic Place because it is a fine example a village meeting house. This is evidenced in its simple rectangular massing, all-over symmetry, medium pitch gabled roof, and simple wooden ornamentation. Few exterior modifications have been made to the building since its construction in 1922.

The church is also designated for its association with Ziba Lockhart (1881-1978), a local personality who made a considerable contribution to the religious life of the former Village of Bristol. Lockhart, a native of the village, was converted to Christianity as a young man. His religious zeal led him to form the Free Will and Primitive Baptist Church in the area. He personally supervised the construction of the meeting house. Lockhart served as pastor of the Free Baptists for over 50 years. He is buried in the graveyard behind the church.

Source: Florenceville-Bristol Town Office, Historic Places File “Old Free Baptist Church”

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Old Free Baptist Church include:
- location on its original site;
- form and massing;
- wood construction;
- original clapboard siding;
- double-door front entrance;
- traditional meeting house elements such as simple symmetric form and modest use of ornamentation;
- medium-pitch gabled roof with eave returns;
- placement of 4/4 windows;
- central gable window (presently boarded up);
- its location adjacent to the graveyard containing the gravesite of Ziba Lockhart.