How They Saved
The Old Rectory
Tlie treasured liuililing is being re¬
stored to its 1814 role.
Everybody agreed that the historic
old Rectory Building which stood on
the grounds of Christ Episcopal Church
facing Capitol Square in Raleigh, was
too valuable to tear down.
Built of handmade brick over 150
years ago. it was the oldest brick build¬
ing in the State's Capital City, and a
structure whose architectural and his¬
toric significance was emphasized by
its listing in the Historic American
Buildings Survey.
But how to avoid its destruction —
and still accommodate expansion needs
of the church — was a controversy
that raged for several years.
Originally a Bank
The dilemma is finally on its way to
a solution, now that North Carolina
National Bank has stepped into the pic¬
ture. proposing to return the old build¬
ing to its original purpose and atmo¬
sphere — that of an antebellum bank.
This was one of the State Bank
Buildings, the eentral branch of six of¬
fices established by the State of North
Carolina in the early 1800's (others
were in Salisbury. Tarboro. Fayette¬
ville. Edcnton. Wilmington, and New
Bern). Old records show that bids were
sought for building the structure in
1812; the cornerstone was laid in
1813; and the building was opened
in 1814 as a combination State Bank
and residence for its President.
The dual purpose of the building
followed a practice prevalent in that
day of having bank buildings tenanted
to protect against burglary. The first
occupant, and President of the Bank,
w'as Colonel William Polk, a Revolu¬
tionary War figure.
Acquired by Church
Christ Church, established in 1821.
and located on property adjacent to the
State Bank, purchased the bank build¬
ing in 1875 for the sum of S9.925. In
the 90-odd years since then. Christ
Church has utilized the building as a
rectory and for various other purposes.
Most recently it has been used for Sun¬
day school classes.
With the passing of time the Old
Rectory Building, as it was still called,
became woefully inadequate in its role
of a parish house facility. Christ
Church parishioners, faced with the ur¬
gent necessity of updating their plant,
made plans to launch a $550,000
building program.
A Painful Choice
Situated on the church grounds
squarely in the way of their projected
building was the treasured Old Rectory
which, they were assured, could not be
adapted to the church's modern needs.
They were faced with the necessity of
making a very painful choice. Once
committed to the new building pro¬
gram. the Old Rectory would have to
go— one way or another. Members of
the church split sharply over the issue.
it was a situation in which other
voices of the Capital City soon made
themselves heard. The Raleigh His¬
toric Sites Commission took a strong
stand: "The whole state has an inter¬
est in the building."
From the N. C. Department of Ar¬
chives and History: "A building of such
historical importance ought not to be
lost to the community, state, and na¬
tion." The Raleigh News and Observer
joined in the chorus with several edi¬
torial scoldings.
Offered to State
The Christ Church vestry, caught in
the crossfire, scarcely needed remind¬
ing; for some time they had been
seeking a solution short of demolition.
Working with some of the interested
groups, they were hoping to have the
building moved, restored, and pre¬
served at an appropriate location.
But without success. Many well-in¬
formed persons doubted that it would
be possible to move the ancient struc¬
ture without its crumbling. There was
talk of moving it piccc-by-picce. In
any event, it was considered that the
cost of a successful move and restora¬
tion would be awesome.
In May of 1967 the Vestry decided
to take their problem to the State of
North Carolina. Rector Daniel Sapp
and Senior Warden Ben Park appeared
before a meeting of the State Capital
Planning Commission, headed by Gov¬
ernor Moore, and offered the Old Rec¬
tory to the state on condition that it
be moved and restored on Heritage
Square at state expense, supplemented
by private funds as available.
The State explored the Christ
Church offer in some depth, but in the
end turned it down. Hope of preserv¬
ing the Old Rectory dimmed.
Af Last, a Solution
At this point the Vestry authorized
an official approach to an indepen¬
dent bank. Officials of North Carolina
National Bank were interested in sav¬
ing the historic structure, and could
envision the possibilities of a State
Capital Branch Office, appropriately
equipped and operated in an authen¬
tically-restored. 1813 vintage State
Bank Building. It eould be one of the
truly unique banking offices in Ameri¬
ca!
Christ Church negotiated an agree¬
ment with NCNB in which, at the
bank’s expense, the Old Rectory would
be moved to a newly-acquired lot ad¬
jacent to the church property, and
( Continued on page 12)
THE STATE. January 15. 1969