Some
Early Churches
and Synagogues
in the Washington, DC & Area
(updated 4/20/2008 - now with links!)
If you have more to add please let me know.
Thank you....
 |
The older houses of worship in the District include, but are not limited to the following. This list is constantly being revised. There are churches dating before the 1860's - 70's that are missing -- please forward any details, it will save research time.
See Church Records for further information.
If you can help
fill in the blanks, then......Please
e-mail the Web
Coordinator
Many
thanks to Jane Donovan for contributions related to the
Methodist Churches and Cemeteries of the DC & Georgetown area.
AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL:
Metropolitan
A.M.E. Church
1518 M. St. NW
(202) 331-1426
(Founded 1854 by breakaway congregations from two earlier churches:
Israel Bethel A.M.E. andUnion Bethel A.M.E.
Now Nat. Hq. of A.M.E. Church)
John Wesley A.M.E. Church
1615 14th St., NW
(Church built in 1850's)
BAPTIST:
First Colored Baptist Church (demolished)
(site at 19th and Eye, NW)
In 1833, this congregation took over this site, which been originally
occupied by DC's first Baptist congregation. In 1871-1975, the
Nineteenth St. Baptist Church was based here until it was demolished to
make way for office development.
Shiloh
Baptist
1500 9th St., NW
(Congregation established in 1862 in various temporary facilities by
congregation which migrated en masse from Fredericksburg, VA. Permanent
building built 1924.)
CATHOLIC:
Georgetown
University
(Founder of this Catholic University was John Carroll
of Maryland, which became the first American Archbishop).
Holy
Trinity
36th and O Sts., NW
Georgetown
(Oldest Catholic Church in Washington. Congregation founded 1794,
current building dates to 1849. Old building still standing a block
away, now Convent of the Visitation (convent not open to public) Old
Parish records are kept in Georgetown University Library.
St.
Augustine's
1419 V St., NW
(202) 265-1470
(Oldest black Catholic congregation in Washington. Founded in 1858,
first permanent building was built 1867. In 1961, congregation merged
with St. Paul's, which had been on the V St., site since 1898.)
St.
Dominick's
(SW DC, near Freeway)
630 E. St., SW, Washingotn, DC
A Southwest DC Catholic community, served since its foundation in 1852 by the Dominican Friars 630 E St. SWWashington, DC
St. Joseph's Catholic Church - Capital Hill
Thanks to Casey Purcell who sent in this addition to
the list of churches--says it dates back to at least 1885 when his
grandfather was baptized there.
St. Patrick's
10th St., NW
(202) 347-2713
Serving the Downtown area, second oldest Catholic church in DC,
congregation founded in 1794, marriage records begin in 1807, baptisms
in 1811, interments from April 15, 1860. Note: they have a volunteer
who comes in once a week to deal with record requests.
St Peter's
2nd and C Sts., SE
Capitol Hill
Founded 1821, formed from St. Patrick's parish on land donated by
Daniel Carroll, of Duddington Manor. Current church (second on site)
built in 1889.
St. Stephen's Catholic Church
2436 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 20037,
established 1867.
EPISCOPALIAN:
EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF WASHINGTON:
Diocesan WEBSITE
Website for National
Cathedral
Christ Episcopal Church
620 G. St. SE
(Congregation founded 1794, oldest in original DC boundaries north of
river. The Church was started in Daniel Carroll's tobacco
barn. Located on Capitol Hill at New Jersey Ave. near D St.
SE. In the beginning "Preachers of every
sect and denomination of Christians were
there admitted--Catholics, Unitarians, Quakers with every intervening
diversity of sect. Even women were allowed to display their
pulpit eloquence, in this national Hall." wrote Margaret Bayard
Smith. Church built 1807 by Benjamin Latrobe).
Church's WEBSITE
has historical info.
Church of the Epiphany
1317 G. St., NW
(202) 347-2635
(pre Civil War)
Grace Episcopal
1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Georgetown
(Built 1866 as a mission to watermen on the C&O Canal)
Historical info on the Church's WEBSITE.
St. John's, Lafayette St.
16th St. at Lafayette Sq., NW
Built 1816, called the "Church of the Presidents", significant
architectural landmark.
St. John's, Georgetown
3240 O St. NW
Georgetown
Built in 1809 by William Thornton, architect of the Capitol.
Congregation formed in 1794, founder Rev. Walter Dulany Addison.
Originally parent church of St. St. John's Lafayette Sq.
St. Luke's
1514 15th St., NW
(Built in 1879, is one of the oldest remaining church buildings built
for a black congregation.)
St. Mary's
728-730 23rd St., NW
(built 1886 for black Episcopalians from two other congregations,
Church of the Epiphany and St.John's Lafayette Sq., Architect, James
Renwick)
St. Paul's Rock Creek
Rock Creek Cemetery, Rock Creek Church Rd., NW
(202) 726-2080
Oldest church in DC, built 1775. Congregation dates from 1712 of which
the origins can be traced back to when the leaders of Piscataway Parish
ordered their rector to preach at the Eastern Branch Church once a
month.
JEWISH:
Adas Israel Synagogue
701 3rd St., NW
(202) 798-0900
(Congregation est. 1870, building dates from 1873-76. Oldest Synagogue
in DC, now a museum. Original congregation was a break-away from the
Washington Hebrew Congregation, now housed in a much newer building)
Talmud Torah Congregation
467 E St. SW. (near Maine Avenue)
(Address from 1909 DC City Directory)
Rabbi Moses R. YOELSON was the first leader of the
congregation. By 1914 he had been succeeded by Rabbi Moses A. HORWITZ.
More information from "Washington at Home," Kathryn Schneider Smith,
ed., 1988): "By the 1890s, Jewish immigrants were holding religious
services with a cantor and rabbi, Moses Yoelson. In 1906 they dedicated
a synagogue, the Talmud Torah congregation. One of the rabbi's sons,
(later know as) Al Jolson, became a leading American entertainer."
Washington Hebrew Congregation
(do not have data, but clearly predates Adas Israel,
from the above description. Phone Adas Israel museum for more details/
info or check the Jewish
Genealogical Society of
DC)
600 I Street, N.W.
LUTHERAN:
Concordia Lutheran Evangelical Church
(NOW United Church)
920 G. ST., NW
(Est. 1833 by a German speaking congregation. The Church is now the
last within the old German community of Foggy Bottom. Merged with Union
United Methodist Church in the 1970's. Building is now owned by
Geo.Washington Univ. and is adjacent to Tower Records. The two types of
services at United are in English and German languages.
Georgetown Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Ave and Volta Pl, NW
Originally founded in 1770 (current building built on site of earlier
church, which was built of logs. George Washington reportedly
occasionally worshipped there.)
Zion Lutheran Church
Corner of 6th and P St. NW (in existence as of 1912-1918).
Thanks
to S.A.Sy for the information.
METHODIST:
Congress
Street Methodist Protestant Church
Founded in 1829 by a group of Methodist reformers who
left the Montgomery Street Church (now Dumbarton). In 1951 Congress
Street merged with Aldersgate Methodist Episcopal Church
Southand Mount Tabor Methodist Protestant Church to form St.
Luke's United Methodist Church, located at Calvert Street and
Wisconsin Ave. NW. [Note: Congress Street's
archives have been deposited in the library at Wesley Theological
Seminary and appear to be complete for 1828-1939]
Dumbarton United Methodist Church
3133 Dumbarton St., NW
Ebenezer United Methodist
4th and D St., SE
Asbury United Methodist Church
Asbury was established in 1836 when a small group of "Negro"
worshippers elected to leave Foundry Methodist Church on 16th Street,
in NW Washington, DC. The congregation is currently in its 166th year
of continuous ministry. The Church which is included in both The
District of Columbia Inventory of Historical Sites and The National
Registry of Historical Places, is located on its original site in
downtown Washington, DC at the corner of 11th & K Streets, NW.
To learn more about our Church, its mission, its ministries, and its
history we invite you to come and worship with us; our address is:
Asbury United
Methodist Church
926 11th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-4488
(202) 628-0009
Foundry United Methodist Church
1500 16th St., NW
Metropolitan
Memorial United Methodist Church
Still in operation. Now located at the corner of
Nebraska and New Mexico Avenues in upper NW Washington.
or
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church (demolished)
(formerly at C. St., and John Marshall Place, NW)
Mount Zion United Methodist Church
1334 29th St., NW
Georgetown
United (Methodist / Lutheran) Church
Merged in the 1970's. The Methodist half of the
congregation was Union United Methodist Church. The building is now
owned by Geo.Washington Univ., adjacent to Tower Records. The two types
of services at United are in English and German languages.
920 G. St., NW
(202) 331-1495
Mt. Vernon
Methodist Episcopal Church
Formerly located as of 1887, on the corner of
K and 9th Street, NW.
PRESBYTERIAN:
Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church
1705 Fifteenth St., NW
(Historic early African American congregation, established in 1841. The
noted abolitionist, Grimke, was the pastor here. Moved to present
building in 1979, a former Christian Science Church built in 1918.)
First Presbyterian Church (demolished)
(formerly at John Marshall Place between C and D)
The congregation was founded in 1827 and was attended by three
Presidents. Demolished in the 1930's.
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
Historic church in Downtown Area
Church
website has info and
history.
St. Andrews (demolished)
(10th and F, NW)
Established in 1794, it was one of the first, if not the first churches
in the new Federal City. It was demolished around 1900 to make way for
the expansion of Woodward & Lothrop.
Presbyterian Church of Georgetown
Formerly on M and 30th Streets, then moved to P Street
in 1878.
Established in 1782 by Scottish worshippers. Founder was Stephen
Bloomer Balch; served as pastor for 52 years.
UNITARIAN:
All Souls Unitarian Church
16th & Harvard Sts., NW
(202) 332-5266
(Originally organized as the First Unitarian Church, was first located
on 6th & D., NW. Moved to 14th and L in 1877, when name was
changed. Current building dates from 1924.)
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA CHURCHES
in existence when it was part of DC
(1800- 1846)
EPISCOPALIAN
Christ Church
N. Columbus St., between King and Cameron
Est. 1767, oldest church in Alexandria, and with the Falls Church in
the town of the same name, one of the two oldest churches in the area.
George Washington and Robert E. Lee's home church. Interesting old
graveyard, and one of the architectural treasures of the DC area.)
St. Paul's Church
Old Town
1830's break-away congregation from Christ Church
Meade Memorial Chapel
Old Town
19th Century Black Episcopalian church
In the old book "Reminiscences of the District of Columbia or Washington City Seventy-Nine Years Ago, 1830-1909" by early DC resident Sarah E. Vedder she mentions many of the old churches which existed in the DC area during the years that she resided there. Perhaps you will find one of the tidbits of information she related in her book helpful in your research.
Mrs. Vedder begins on page 69 of her book describing various DC churches of the period as follows:
" At this time the churches were not very numerous. The oldest one, I suppose, was the Foundry, corner Fourteenth and G Streets. Dr. Laurie's Presbyterian Church, on F, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth. Rev. Obediah B. Brown's Baptist, on Tenth, between F and G, next north of the Medical College and in the neighborhood of Ford's theatre, where Lincoln was assassinated in after years. St. Patrick's Catholic , corner Tenth and G, with Female Orphan Asylum opposite, or nearly so. The Methodist Protestant, or Radical Church, on Eleventh Street, between F and G. I remember going to that church one Sabbath evening to listen to the Rev. Thomas Stockton, his subject was: "Beauties of the New Jerusalem." He was very tall and slender and, as he stood in the pulpit, looked ghostly. He held the attention of the congregation more than two hours. At any time you could have heard a pin fall. The people were packed like sardines in a box, more than three-fourths were standing. When he ended, his voice almost in a whisper, his arms elevated, he looked as if he were ready to ascend to the beautiful land he had so eloquently described. Everyone drew a long breath, or sigh, and retired from the church without remark.
Dr. Gurley's Presbyterian, corner New York Avenue and H Streets. St. Matthew's Catholic, corner H and Fourteenth. St. John's Episcopal, corner Fifteenth and a half and H, called Parson Hawley's Church. Asbury Chapel, Negro Methodist, northeast from St. Matthew's. Ryland Chapel, Methodist, in the "Northern Liberties." Union Chapel, Methodist, corner Twentieth and H. Colored Baptist Church, corner Nineteenth and T. The German Lutheran, on G, between Nineteenth and Twentieth. The Union Chapel and St. Matthew's were new, scarcely finished at this time. There was a Unitarian Church, and another, called the Metropolitan Methodist, in the neighborhood of the City Hall, or, on Four and a half street, in the eastern part of the city."