“What if these walls could talk?” they might whisper tales of faith. Here before us stands the New Dawn Baptist Church. It is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a beacon of hope and a testament to the enduring power of community.
First Baptist Church has a rich history. It began in 1802 with just six members. They met in a private home. Later, they built a meeting house. This was on the corner of 19th and I Streets NW.
In 1807, Reverend Obadiah Bruen Brown became the first full-time pastor. He served until 1850. Brown also worked for the U.S. Post Office. He was chief clerk to Postmaster Generals William T. Barry and Amos Kendall.
Brown was influential. He helped establish Columbian College. It is now George Washington University. President James Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams donated to the building fund.
First Baptist Church played a role in the lives of enslaved people. Enslaved persons made up a portion of First Baptist’s membership. Their race, status, and slave owner’s name were recorded. Some slave owners were also church members.
In 1819, an enslaved woman named Susan joined. She was identified as a servant of President Monroe. Monroe lived down the street from First Baptist.
Free Black people were also members. The Wormley family was one example. Mary and Lynch Wormley moved to Washington in 1814. Their son James founded the Wormley Hotel.
Paul Jennings joined First Baptist as a free Black man. He was enslaved by Dolley Madison. He worked as a valet in the President’s House. First Baptist encouraged literacy. They established a Sabbath School in 1819. It included African-American members.
Despite this inclusion, segregation existed. Black members sat in galleries at the back. They could not hold leadership roles. In 1830, some African-American members began meeting separately. This was in a rented school room.
In 1834, a new church building was constructed. It was on Tenth Street. Many African-American members preferred the original location. This led to two congregations. The Nineteenth Street church became exclusively African American. In 1839, it became the First Colored Baptist Church. It is now Nineteenth Street Baptist Church.
First Baptist Church moved several times. From 1890 to 1953, it was located at 16th and O Streets NW. The current sanctuary was built on the same site. The first service was held on Christmas Day, 1955.
Today, First Baptist Church continues to worship. It stands on the corner of Sixteenth and O Streets N.W. It partners with various Baptist organizations. These include the Alliance of Baptists and the Baptist World Alliance. It is a testament to faith. It exemplifies a complicated relationship between religion and American history.