Early Churches and Synagogues


An inventory of church records in DC is contained in the following publications, available at the Library of Congress, Washington Historical Society, and Washingtoniana Collection of Martin Luther King Library, among other sources: A Directory of Churches and Religious Organization in the District of Columbia, 1939, and Inventory of the Church Archives in the District of Columbia: the Protestant Episcopal Church, Washington Diocese. These two inventories were done under WPA auspices.
Research Tips: If the above publications cannot be accessed, the first port of call for obtaining old church records is to contact the relevant church, where the pastor or his or her secretary can generally provide information on where the older records are kept. In the case of a church no longer in existence, the best bet is to contact the relevant archive library, or other major institution for the denomination to find out the name and location of the successor church, if any, and where the old records are housed, although if this is not clear, a better bet might be to check the Washingtoniana Collection at the Martin Luther King main library (DC Public Library System) and the Washington Historical Society Library, Tel: (202) 785-2068.

The older houses of worship in the District include, but are not limited to, the following. Many thanks to Jane Donovan for contributions related to the Methodist Churches and Cemeteries of the DC & Georgetown area.

Episcopal

The Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Tel: (202) 537-6555 can advise on merging of churches, successor congregations and general local church history matters. For help with records of churches no longer in existence, contact Susan Stonesifer, Historiographer. In addition, transcribed records for many area churches are in the Genealogical Records Committee volumes for DC at the DAR Library.

Methodist

The Wesley Theological Seminary Library on Massachusetts Avenue, Tel: (202) 885-8695 has extensive collections on the history of the Methodist Church, including records of the former Methodist Protestant Church. They can generally advise where a church's name has changed, or on the name of a successor church when congregations have merged, and they have several parish membership rosters from the late 19th - early 20th century.

Roman Catholic

The Archdiocese of Washington, Tel: (301) 853-3800, can advise on early Catholic history, consolidation of parishes, dates of creation of new parishes and on the location of records. They can also assist genealogists tracking relatives who joined various Catholic religious orders. The Special Collections Division of the Georgetown University Library has extensive records of the early Catholic church in Maryland, specifically of the Jesuits. The early parish registers of Holy Trinity Church and the plot book of Holy Rood Cemetery are in this library.

Seventh Day Adventists

Archive in Silver Spring, MD , tel. (301) 680-5020. Has records of some member obituaries from Adventist publications.

Various Germanic Denominations

The Menno Simons Historical Library in Harrisonburg, VA , tel: (540) 432-4178, has some church records of interest to those with DC German ancestry, including records of the Reformed Church, Lutheran Church and Anabaptists in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and can advise on the history of particular churches and potential successor churches.

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."

ImageNameDenominationDateNotes
John Wesley African Methodist Episcopal 1850's 1615 14th St. NW
from Asbury in 1847, moved to present location in 1913; center of civil rights activism. Built in 1894 for St Andrew's Episcopal; Architect: Murdock and Harding
Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal 1854 1518 M. St. NW
Founded 1854 by breakaway congregations from two earlier churches: Israel Bethel A.M.E. and Union Bethel A.M.E.; now Nat. Hq. of A.M.E. Church.
Architect: Samuel T. C. Morsell   Wikipedia
Calvary Baptist 1862 755 8th Street, NW
Architect: Adolf Cluss      Wikipedia
First Colored Baptist Church Baptist 1833 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.    Wikipedia
Shiloh Baptist 1862 1500 9th St., NW
Congregation established in 1862 in various temporary facilities which migrated from Fredericksburg, VA. Permanent building built 1924.   Wikipedia
First Church Congregational 1865 10th & G St, NW
  
Christ Church Episcopal 1794 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.
Architect: Benjamin Henry Latrobe      Wikipedia
Church of the Epiphany Episcopal 1844 1317 G. St., NW
Architect: John W. Harkness and Richard Upjohn      Wikipedia
Grace Episcopal 1866 1041 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Georgetown
Mission to watermen on the C&O Canal   Archives      Wikipedia
Trinity Episcopal Church Episcopal 1851-1936 3rd & C St NW, demolished
Architect: James Renwick
St Alban's Episcopal 1854 3001 Wisconsin Ave NW
Archives   Wikipedia
St. John's Episcopal 1816 16th St. at Lafayette Square, NW
Called the "Church of the Presidents", significant architectural landmark.
Architect: Benjamin Henry Latrobe      Wikipedia
St John's Episcopal 1794 3240 O St. NW, Georgetown
Congregation formed in 1794, founder Rev. Walter Dulany Addison. Built in 1809. Originally parent church of St. St. John's Lafayette Sq.
Architect: William Thornton      Wikipedia
St Luke St Luke's Episcopal 1879 1514 15th St., NW
One of the oldest remaining church buildings built for a black congregation.   Wikipedia
St Mary's Episcopal 1886 728-730 23rd St., NW
for black Episcopalians from two other congregations, Church of the Epiphany and St.John's Lafayette Sq., Architect, James Renwick
Architect: Calvin Thomas Stowe Brent   Wikipedia
St Paul's Episcopal 1712 Rock Creek Cemetery, Rock Creek Church Rd., NW
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.      Wikipedia
Washington National Chathedral Episcopal 1906-1988 The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the City and Diocese of Washington, commonly known as Washington National Cathedral, is an American cathedral of the Episcopal Church.
Architect: George Frederick Bodley, Philip Hubert Frohman   Wikipedia   YouTube
Christ Church Episcopal 1767 N. Columbus St., between King and Cameron, Alexandria when it was part of DC (1800- 1846)
Est. 1767, oldest church in Alexandria. George Washington and Robert E. Lee's home church.
Architect: James Wren      Wikipedia
St Paul's Episcopal 1830's Old Town Alexandria
break-away congregation from Christ Church
Architect: Benjamin Henry Latrobe   Wikipedia
Meade Memorial Chapel Episcopal Old Town Alexandria 19th Century Black Episcopalian church
Adas Israel Jewish 1870 701 3rd St., NW
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   Wikipedia
Talmud Torah Jewish 467 E St. SW. (near Maine Avenue, from the 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 Jewish Clearly predates Adas Israel, from the above description. Phone Adas Israel museum for more details or check with the Jewish Genealogical Society of DC.   Wikipedia
6th & I Historic Synagogue Jewish 600 I Street, N.W.    Wikipedia
Concordia Evangelical Lutheran 1833 (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 George Washington University and is adjacent to Tower Records. The two types of services at United are in English and German languages.
Georgetown Lutheran 1770 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.
Luther Place Lutheran 1873 1226 Vermont Ave., NW.
Architect: Judson York,
J. C. Harkness and Henry Davis   Wikipedia
First Trinity Lutheran 1851 4th & E St., Since 1851
Zion Lutheran Corner of 6th and P St. NW (in existence as of 1912-1918).
Anacostia Methodist 1871-1970 14th & U St SE
Archives   
Asbury Methodist 1836 926 11th Street, NW
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.
Architect: Clarence Lowell Harding      Wikipedia
Congress Street Methodist 1829 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]   Archives
Dumbarton Methodist 1772 3133 Dumbarton St., NW
Architect: William James Palmer
Ebenezer Methodist 1827 4th and D St., SE
Ebenezer United Methodist Church is Capitol Hill's oldest independent black congregation, founded in 1827 by blacks who left a biracial church on Capitol Hill because the white congregants practiced segregation. The members of the new church purchased land here and built a small frame structure, a model of which can be seen along the side of the church that faces Fourth Street. In 1864 Ebenezer gained its first African American minister, Reverend Noah Jones, and housed the city's first publicly financed school for black children. Emma V. Brown was one of two teachers at the school and is credited with being the city's first African American public school teacher.
Architect: William James Palmer   
Foundry Methodist 1814 1500 16th St., NW
Architect: Adolf Cluss (1864) and Appleton Prentiss Clark (1894)   Wikipedia
Mount Zion Methodist 1876 1334 29th St., NW Georgetown
Established in 1816; oldest known church in DC started by and for black people; active in underground railroad.   Wikipedia
Mt Vernon Place Methodist 1850 Located as of 1887 on the corner of K and 9th Street, NW.   Archives   
National Methodist Methodist Formerly Metropolitan Memorial, formerly at 4th & C Streets NW. Now located at the corner of Nebraska and New Mexico Avenues in upper NW Washington.   
North Capitol Street Methodist 1876 corner of North Capitol and K streets Northeast   Archives   
Piney Grove Methodist 1898 started 1898, became Faith in 1908
Fifteenth Street Presbyterian 1841 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 Church Presbyterian 1827 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.      Wikipedia
National Presbyterian 1883 Connecticut Ave & N St NW
Also known as the Church of the Covenant
Architect: J.C. Cady & Co      Wikipedia
New York Avenue Presbyterian 1794 Historic church in Downtown Area      Wikipedia
St Andrews Presbyterian 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.
Georgetown Presbyterian 1782 Established in 1782 by Scottish worshippers. Founder was Stephen Bloomer Balch; served as pastor for 52 years. Formerly on M and 30th Streets, then moved to P Street in 1878.   YouTube
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic 1794 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.      Wikipedia
Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic 1864 8th Street and N Street, NW
Architect: Edward Clements   Wikipedia
St Augustine St. Aloysius's Roman Catholic 1859 19 Eye Street NW
Architect: Benedict Sestini   Wikipedia
St. Ann's Roman Catholic 1866 4001 Yuma Street NW
St Augustine St. Augustine's Roman Catholic 1858 1419 V St., NW
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   Wikipedia
St Dominic St. Dominic's Roman Catholic 1852 630 E. St., SW, Washingotn, DC
A Southwest DC Catholic community, served since its foundation in 1852 by the Dominican Friars
Architect: Patrick Keely      Wikipedia
St. Joseph's - Capital Hill Roman Catholic 1868 2nd and C Streets, NE; 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.   Wikipedia
St. Mary's Roman Catholic 1845 727 5th St NW
Architect: Baldwin & Pennington   Wikipedia
St. Matthew's Roman Catholic 1840 1725 Rhode Island Ave NW
Architect: C. Grant La Farge   Wikipedia
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic 1794 10th & G St., NW
Serving the Downtown area, second oldest Catholic church in DC, 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.
Architect: Lawrence J. O'Connor   Wikipedia
St. Peter's Roman Catholic 1821 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   Wikipedia
St. Stephen's Roman Catholic 1867 2436 Pennsylvania Ave NW, 20037   Wikipedia
All Souls Unitarian Church Unitarian 1821 16th & Harvard Sts., NW
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.
Architect: Coolidge, Shepley & Bulfinch (1924 building)      Wikipedia