Ephphatha Church | |
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Location | 220 W. Geer St. Durham, North Carolina |
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Coordinates | 36°0′20″N 78°53′53″W / 36.00556°N 78.89806°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1930 |
Architect | Carr, George W., Sr. |
Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
MPS | Durham MRA |
NRHP reference No. | 85001778 [1] |
Added to NRHP | August 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]