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First Baptist Church

Introduction

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The First Baptist Church of Fond du Lac was organized in 1845 and joined with the People’s Church, an unaffiliated body, in 1905. With the increase in size the congregation had to construct a new building to accommodate families and over 500 Sunday School attendees. This locally and nationally designated structure is an example of early 20th century Neo-Gothic design.

Backstory and Context

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This building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a fine example of the Gothic Revival style of church architecture. The parapeted roofs, buttresses, and gothic-arched openings are all elements of the style. This rambling church is well-built and is typical of early twentieth century Gothic Revival church design. The building incorporates the coloration and proportion of Craftsman design with the ornamental and structural features of Gothic tradition. The interior is still virtually intact: the Estey organ (purchased with a matching grant from Andrew Carnegie), baptistery, pews, and entire Sunday School with its gallery, chalkboards, and curtain partitions remain as they were in 1907. The congregation moved to a smaller structure in 1980. 

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