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Ephphatha Church

Coordinates: 36°0′20″N 78°53′53″W / 36.00556°N 78.89806°W / 36.00556; -78.89806
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Ephphatha Church
Ephphatha Church is located in North Carolina
Ephphatha Church
Ephphatha Church is located in the United States
Ephphatha Church
Location220 W. Geer St.
Durham, North Carolina
Coordinates36°0′20″N 78°53′53″W / 36.00556°N 78.89806°W / 36.00556; -78.89806
Arealess than one acre
Built1930
ArchitectCarr, George W., Sr.
Architectural styleGothic Revival
MPSDurham MRA
NRHP reference No.85001778[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 09, 1985

Ephphatha Church, also known as Faith Tabernacle, is a historic Episcopal church at 220 W. Geer Street in Durham, Durham County, North Carolina. It was built in 1930, and is a small, one-story, six-bay deep, Gothic Revival style brick building. It is one of only four churches in the United States built exclusively for a deaf congregation. The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina rented the Ephphatha Church building to another congregation from 1977 until early 1981, then sold the building.[2]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.[1]

In 2017, the church was purchased by American architect Phil Freelon and his wife Nnenna. It now operates as a 501 (c)3 arts organization, NorthStar Church of the Arts, presenting work by artists of color and those with historically limited access to arts experiences.[3] Their hallmark program is a monthly queer-affirming, inclusive Sunday Service that uses art as a healing modality. [4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Patricia S. Dickinson. "Ephphatha Church" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  3. ^ Tullis, Eric (27 February 2019). "A Historic Durham Church Is Reborn as a Visionary Arts Space Bridging the Secular and Spiritual". Indy Week.
  4. ^ "Sunday Service". NorthStar Church of the Arts.