Zion Wesley Church

Empowered by faith, the Zion Wesley Church stands as a testament to resilience. Right here on Michigan Avenue, this church echoes with a history that began far from this location. In 1844, racial prejudice forced a group of worshippers from Mt. Zion Methodist Church to seek their own spiritual haven. Zion Wesley Church’s story began in a humble Georgetown home, on the corner of 28th and Olive Avenue. The congregation, led by Gassaway Waters, Isaac Johnson, and others, soon outgrew that space. By 1846, they had relocated to 23rd Street, between L and M Streets NW. Tragedy struck when their small framed houses of worship were destroyed by fire, a blatant act of racially motivated terrorism. Undeterred, their faith remained unshaken. A young Black architect, Calvin Brent, answered their prayers. He designed and built a new, two-story brick church on the same site in 1848. This building became known as the Second Colored Wesleyan Church. Years later, in 1884, the church joined the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Under Reverend Wallace Brown, it was renamed Union Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The church continued to serve the community, even adding a parsonage in 1919 and a senior home for its elderly members. The Zion Wesley Church also played a vital, clandestine role in the Underground Railroad. B. F. Grant, a devoted member, along with prominent figures like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, helped lead the movement. Here, escaping slaves were taught carpentry, a valuable skill to aid them in their quest for freedom. In 1960, Reverend Dr. George L. Smith became pastor. By 1967, urban renewal prompted the congregation to relocate once more, eventually finding their current home on Michigan Avenue. The Zion Wesley Church’s journey reflects the strength and perseverance of its members, a story woven into the fabric of Washington D.C.’s history.