Built in 1770, the wood-frame meeting house stands at what was, until about 1850, the center of New Durham, and was originally used for both civic and religious purposes.

The main facade has a center entrance, also with simple framing, flanked by sash windows.

Also on the property are the town's first burial ground, and a rectangular stone animal pound.

[2] The town of New Durham was chartered in 1762, its settlers formally obligated to build a meeting house by 1768.

It was originally built as a two-story structure, but after the church congregation moved to its own building, the town voted to reduce it to a single story in 1838.