“God willing, a church should one day stand where she desired it to be, forever free to all who wished to worship in it.” That’s what Reverend Ten Broeck said. He laid gold coins on the altar of the school chapel. We are standing before Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington D.C.
Saint Alban’s Parish is an Episcopal Church. It stands on Mount Alban. The church is a member of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
Phoebe Pemberton Morris Nourse bequeathed money to establish Saint Alban’s Church. She left 35 dollars. Construction began in 1851. The church opened on April 20, 1854.
Saint Alban’s was founded on a small plot of land. It was located on a hilltop. This crossroads was busy. The church was in a mixed neighborhood and a border region. It stood in a national capital. Saint Alban’s started as a schoolhouse mission. It became a free church in 1854. The church has remained mission-minded ever since.
The Nourse family supported Saint Alban’s for half a century. Joseph Nourse was Register of the Treasury starting in 1781. His favorite retreat was his farm. He named it Mount Alban after St. Alban’s Cathedral in England. He wished a church could be built there. His grandchildren founded the church. They were Phoebe, Rosa, Mary, James, and Caroline Nourse.
At that time, Episcopal churches were supported by pew rentals. It was hard for people to save up to rent a pew. After the American Revolution, the Episcopal Church faced challenges. Roman Catholic missionaries were very active. A free Episcopal church was needed near Georgetown.
Mount Alban Farm was purchased in 1846. It was purchased to found a boys’ school. It was named St. John’s Institute. The school failed but was restarted in 1847. Reverend Anthony Ten Broeck built a school chapel. He invited the neighbors to attend the Sunday service. Bishop William Whittingham of Maryland gave the chapel missionary status.
Charles Nourse’s daughter Phoebe was devout. In 1850, Phoebe died of tuberculosis at age 23. She left Ten Broeck 40 dollars in gold. This was to found the free church on Mount Alban. Local donors added funds to Phoebe’s legacy. Her botanical watercolors were sold to raise money. In 1851, ground was broken by St. John’s schoolboys.
The first service was celebrated in the church on April 30, 1854. Phoebe’s mother painted watercolors to support the church. Her sister Mary greeted people. Her sister Rosa prepared the altar. Her brother James served on the vestry. A parishioner said they were like one family.
When Reverend Childs died, Reverend William Christian was installed. This was five days before Fort Sumter was fired upon in 1861. The loyalties of the parishioners were divided. Some owned property in Maryland and Virginia. Confederate sympathizers set fires in the neighborhood. Fortunately, they did not spread to the wooden church. Christian kept the congregation united. Saint Alban’s has been through a lot, but the Civil War was the worst.
The population of Washington increased after the Civil War. Saint Alban’s established a mission in Tenleytown in 1874. St. Columba’s Chapel was built in 1875.
Bishop Satterlee wanted to build the National Cathedral where it stands today. Saint Alban’s vestry refused to sell their property. Their refusal saved the site for the Cathedral Close.
In 1911, Reverend George Bratenahl resigned. He became Dean of the National Cathedral. The wooden church was encased with stone in memory of Louisa Bratenahl. Work began in 1914 and was completed in 1924.
Architecturally, Saint Alban’s is designed like an English country parish church. It is shaped like a cross with a bell tower. Many stained glass windows are designed by James Powell & Sons. The ruby and sapphire chancel windows depict the crucified Christ. Other windows depict the mission saints.
Saint Alban’s is committed to serving neighbors in DC and across the globe. It makes and distributes weekly meals to the homeless. It supports families and funds schools.
The Opportunity Shop is Saint Alban’s oldest outreach program. It has offered quality goods at reasonable prices since 1955. Proceeds support those in need.
Saint Alban’s stands at a crossroads. It is still a free church, open to all. It is still a family church. We’ve reached the end of our journey here at Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church. I hope the story of its founding and its enduring spirit of community resonate with you long after you leave this place.