The soaring white steeple pierces the DC sky. That’s the Capitol Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church. Its beauty is undeniable. But its story? It’s even more remarkable.
This wasn’t always the grand sanctuary you see today. The Capitol Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church’s journey began humbly. It started in the 1970s. Brother Wallace Ferguson a new immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago. He brought his faith to Washington DC. He and a small group evangelized. They formed the Northeast F Street Mission. This was an affiliate of the First SDA Church in Washington DC.
They held services in the Deliverance Church of Christ on F Street NE. They also met in Sis Hattie Payne Addison’s home on F Street NE. By 1973 they had Company status. On October 27 1973 they chose their name Capitol Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church. They also started a building fund campaign.
In 1974 they bought their first church home on East Capitol Street NE. Seven months later with 62 members they became a church. This was under the Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. By 1986 they had around 200 members. They voted to purchase a new sanctuary. It was close to the US Capitol.
After renovations the grand opening was in 1988. This is the same location where members still worship at 914 Massachusetts Avenue NE. The church also bought nearby properties. They even purchased a Yamaha grand piano. In 2015-2016 they renovated the 105-year-old sanctuary.
This building wasn’t always a church. It started as Ingram Memorial Congregational Church. It was built in 1910. Lumber baron Orrin Henry Ingram funded it. It was designed by James H Warner. President William Howard Taft even took part in the dedication. The church had unusual amenities like a swimming pool and bowling alleys. It was designed for recreation too. By the 1960s membership declined. In 1970 the congregation disbanded. The building was sold.
Then the Capitol Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church acquired it in 1987. The church continues its legacy of prayer and evangelism. Its membership has grown. Its community involvement has deepened. Its Christian service has expanded. From humble beginnings to a magnificent house of worship this church’s story is a testament to faith. It is a story of perseverance and community. It is a living example of the enduring power of faith in the heart of Washington DC.