National Register of Historic Places

Ephphatha Church

Durham, Durham County, North Carolina
Listed
August 8, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85001778

About this property

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. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. 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. Their hallmark program is a monthly queer-affirming, inclusive Sunday Service that uses art as a healing modality.

Location

220 W. Geer St.
Durham, Durham County, North Carolina
36.00577, -78.89774

Categories

ARCHITECTURERELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Ephphatha Church

This page lists Ephphatha Church. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Ephphatha Church report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Scott and Roberts Dry Cleaning Plant, Office, and Store
Industrial
0.2 mi
Foster and West Geer Streets Historic District
Industrial
0.2 mi
Pearl Mill Village Historic District
Industrial
0.2 mi
North Durham-Duke Park District
Listed
0.3 mi
Dillard-Gamble Houses
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ephphatha Church listed on the National Register?

Ephphatha Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 8, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Ephphatha Church?

Ephphatha Church is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ephphatha Church?

The period of significance for Ephphatha Church is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ephphatha Church?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Ephphatha Church will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Durham County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Durham County.

Explore DurhamCounty ›

More historic places in North Carolina

Browse all historic places in North Carolina.

View North Carolinahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

North Carolina history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

North Carolinahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Ephphatha Church will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report