Photo courtesy of the Exeter assessor’s office

Local developers David Cowie and Florence Ruffner have sold Exeter’s former First Baptist Church to the town’s famous private school.

An LLC controlled by the duo earned $2 million from the sale to Phillips Exeter Academy according to public records.

Cowie and Ruffner had permitted an 11-unit condominium conversion for the red-brick former house of worship in 2022.

According to the Portsmouth Herald, Phillips Exeter plans to use the former church as classrooms next year, while an existing campus building is renovated. The school will then convert the building into a 36-student dormitory as part of a long-term plan to consolidate its dormitories into one part of town.

The dorm conversion will likely need review by town officials, possibly including the Exeter Historic District Commission.