It is significant for its association with Elias Camp Morris (1855-1922), who was the pastor of the church from 1879 and who was a driving force in the establishment of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Morris served as the convention's president from 1895 until his death, and his church served functionally as the organization's headquarters.

It is a Gothic Revival structure executed in brick, with its main (western) facade consisting of a pair of towers flanking a large central gable.

Morris was also politically active in Republican Party circles, attending national conventions as a delegate.

[3] The Centennial Baptist Church served as Morris' home base for all of his activities, and grew substantially under his leadership.

Helena mayor Kevin Smith described the condition of the church as "a bombed-out World War II ruin.