“Did you know Woodlawn Baptist Church started as a Sunday school” That’s right. Woodlawn Baptist Church in Washington DC has a rich history. It all began in 1850 when John and Rachel Mason purchased Woodlawn Mansion. Nine years later they founded a Sunday school. This humble beginning at Woodlawn Plantation marked the genesis of this vibrant community.
The church was officially constituted in 1868. It became part of the Potomac Association of Southern Baptists. Early members likely met in the mansion’s parlor. They waited for God to provide their first sanctuary. The Masons’ son Otis donated land in 1872. This enabled the construction of a meeting house.
From 1872 to 1876 Otis Mason himself preached. Then Reverend Samuel Chapman a member of Mosby’s Fighting Parson became the pastor. He served from 1876 to 1878.
The church thrived as the Mount Vernon and Fort Belvoir areas grew. The original building was expanded. Additions included a basement a belfry and an education building complete with a baptistery. Membership boomed from 1943 to the late 1960s. By 1969 membership reached 394.
This explosive growth necessitated replacing the original meeting house. Woodlawn Baptist Church expanded its property line into Fort Belvoir. With the help of Congressman Joel T Broyhill Senator A Willis Robertson and Senator Harry F Byrd Sr. President Lyndon Johnson signed House Resolution 11064 into law in 1964. This allowed the purchase of three acres of land from the US Army for roughly $12000. Construction began in May 1969. The first service in the new Fellowship Hall was held on Christmas Day 1969.
In 1996 a new sanctuary was built. It was completed in April 1997. The church grounds also boast a historic cemetery. This cemetery started in the 1870s. It provided a resting place for those who could not afford a grave. Many of the interred were Masons or former church members. The cemetery officially closed in April 2000. Pillar Church of Woodlawn now maintains it.
Woodlawn Baptist Church has remained steadfast in its faith. It’s a local New Testament church. It has faithfully spread the Gospel. The church has planted other churches and supported missions nationally and internationally. It has seen changes in leadership and membership over its more than 140 years. In late 2014 members voted to disband. They transferred their assets to Pillar Church of Dumfries. This allowed for the planting of a new church near Fort Belvoir. The legacy of Woodlawn Baptist Church continues to inspire. Its story is one of perseverance faith and unwavering commitment to God’s word.