Ephphatha Church

{{short description|Historic church in North Carolina, United States}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Ephphatha Church

| nrhp_type =

| image = Ephphatha Church.jpg

| caption =

| location = 220 W. Geer St.
Durham, North Carolina

| coordinates = {{coord|36|0|20|N|78|53|53|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = North Carolina#USA

| built = 1930

| architect = Carr, George W., Sr.

| architecture = Gothic Revival

| added = August 09, 1985

| area = less than one acre

| mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64000452|title=Durham MRA}}

| refnum = 85001778{{NRISref|2009a}}

}}

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.{{Cite web | author = Patricia S. Dickinson| title =Ephphatha Church| work = National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory | url = https://files.nc.gov/ncdcr/nr/DH0563.pdf | publisher = North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office | accessdate = 2014-10-01}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Tullis |first1=Eric |title=A Historic Durham Church Is Reborn as a Visionary Arts Space Bridging the Secular and Spiritual |url=https://indyweek.com/culture/art/a-historic-durham-church-is-reborn/ |website=Indy Week|date=27 February 2019 }} Their hallmark program is a monthly queer-affirming, inclusive Sunday Service that uses art as a healing modality. {{cite web |title=Sunday Service |url=http://northstardurham.com/sunday-service |website=NorthStar Church of the Arts}}