The First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain

The First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain

Submitted by: Marc Truant & Associates, Inc.

On a bitter, cold evening in January 2005, a fire broke out in the furnace

of the historic First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain. It quickly spread up the walls to the roof.

Despite the heroic efforts of Boston firefighters, the building was destroyed. All that remained

of the pre-Civil War church building was the exterior walls and steeple tower, which were

constructed of rock, the charred timbers, some pews, and an E. & G.G. Hook

organ ruined beyond recognition. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze.

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The First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain

Submitted by:  Marc Truant & Associates, Inc.

On a bitter, cold evening in January 2005, a fire broke out in the furnace

of the historic First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain. It quickly spread up the walls to the roof.

Despite the heroic efforts of Boston firefighters, the building was destroyed. All that remained

of the pre-Civil War church building was the exterior walls and steeple tower, which were

constructed of rock, the charred timbers, some pews, and an E. & G.G. Hook

organ ruined beyond recognition. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze.

Encased by ice in the frigid temperatures, the water-soaked remains sparkled eerily as

members of the congregation surveyed the damage. Remarkably, the Book of Remembrance,

a record of the history of the church carefully kept for half a century, survived, soaked through but intact.

The First Baptist Church, however, was suddenly without a home.

The shocking loss of this landmark structure in the heart of Jamaica Plain led to a

tremendous outpouring of concern from people throughout the country. A stream

of volunteered support from individuals and other churches around the country began almost

immediately after the fire. These early donations, which totaled more than $200,000, allowed

The First Baptist Church to continue operating, clear the debris from the fire, and prepare for

rebuilding. Buoyed by this generous support, the congregation moved quickly to shed its image

of “the church that burned” to become “the church that is rebuilding.”

Prioritized building requirements were established, and proposals were solicited. The church

retained the services of the Office of Michael Rosenfeld, Architect, and Marc Truant & Associates, Inc.,

Construction Managers, to rebuild the facility. A plan of carefully phased reconstruction

that reinforced the church’s goals and inclusive mission was adopted. This plan, which supports the church’s focus on

social, educational, and community programs, will follow the same footprint, height, and design of the

original building and will be carried out in two phases of construction.

Phase I will focus on replacing the infrastructure of the entire building and completing the main floor, accessible at ground level, which features highly flexible spaces that will support a variety of programs and activities. This phase, which will be completed early in 2010, includes:

  • Reinforcement of the foundation, a new structural steel frame, concrete floor slabs and reconstruction of the roof, water-damaged walls, windows, and entrances.

  • Finishing the ground floor (7,000 square feet) which will provide a meeting hall seating 200 people, lobby, classrooms, offices, kitchen, and bathroom facilities.

  • New building systems including plumbing, fire protection, heating, ventilation, and electrical for the entire facility.

  • Furnishings and landscaping.

Phase II will be undertaken by the church at a later point in time and entail finishing the second floor of the building. This work will include a 300-seat sanctuary that will be used for church services as well as community activities such as lectures and concerts. The upper floor will also feature a multipurpose classroom and an elevator making it fully accessible from the ground level. In addition, a historic 1872 E.&G.G. Hook and Hastings organ, acquired from the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in New York City, will be restored and installed in the sanctuary.

The First Baptist Church sponsors programs that range from arts and crafts and Spanish language classes for children to movie showings that reflect on social justice themes. The church also offers support to local organizations that promote fair trade, care for seniors, and provide new opportunities for women fleeing domestic abuse. It is actively involved in many neighborhood activities, such as art and cultural events, music festivals, and the local business and professional association. The new facility will support the church’s envisioned future which calls for a ministry of hospitality that will serve and involve a wide cross-section of the community through activities such as: a food pantry and soup kitchen, senior center, language classes, art and music festivals, a community accessible computer lab, and after school programs for youth.

The First Baptist Church has been serving the community for 150 years. It is part of Jamaica Plain’s heritage, and the congregation’s commitment to social justice work provides a great contribution to the community.

Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez, Massachusetts House of Representatives

The design and construction team has met the challenges of a limited budget, a constrained site (additionally restricted by the temporary shoring required to prop up the remaining, original wall sections) and the difficulty of marrying a new facility to a weakened one-hundred fifty year old structure with creativity and determination in a collaborative effort. The restored building will preserve the historic character of the original church while providing flexible, practical, and functional space that will support the mission of The First Baptist Church for decades to come.