Peeking through the frosted glass, slender evergreens sway gently in the breeze. Welcome to the Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter. It is a place with a unique story. This church began in February 1942. The United Lutheran Church of America Board of American Missions surveyed the area. Later that year, Rev. John T. Keister Jr. arrived as Mission Developer.
The first service occurred on June 15 1943. It was held in what is now the Fort Davis Branch U.S. Postal Service Fairfax Village. In October 1943, the charter membership list opened. Rev. Ralph E. LaTontaine became the successor on March 30 1945.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter incorporated on August 19 1945. It started with 49 members. Rev. H. Luther Rhodes became the first Pastor of Holy Comforter on November 1 1945. Charter membership closed on December 2 1945. It ended with 53 confirmed members.
In January 1946, an eleven-room house at 3319 Alabama Avenue was purchased. It stood at the corner of Branch and Alabama avenues. The first service in the “house chapel” was on September 29 1946. The chapel was dedicated on November 17 1946. The mortgage on the Chapel burned on January 18 1953.
Property at 3309 Alabama Avenue purchased in November 1955. It was for use as a rectory. Rev. Charles P. Gartner succeeded Pastor Rhodes in September 1956. The newly-purchased rectory at 2533 34th St Southeast was dedicated November 3 1957.
Groundbreaking for the first increment of the proposed church building took place March 30 1958. The cornerstone laid on September 21 1958. The first service held in the new building November 9 1958. The new building was dedicated Juen 5 1969. Rev. Franklin G. Senger III succeeded Pastor Gartner in September 1959.
The Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter participated in organizing Southeast Neighbors in early 1964. The mortgage of the 3309 Alabama Avenue property burned April 2 1967. The mortgage on the rectory at 2533 34th Street Southeast burned May 11 1969.
The site was blessed for a six-room Educational Unit August 30 1970. The first Ecumenical Palm Sunday Service held in 1971. It took place on the lawn of East Washington Heights Baptist Church. Branch and Alabama avenues hosted area churches. The Educational unit dedicated September 19 1971.
The Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter had strong participation in organizing Meals on Wheels in early 1974. In 1975, they assisted in locating a Vietnamese refugee family. The Karl Wilhelm 14-rank Tracker Organ was blessed and dedicated March 9 1976. The renovated nave was rededicated that day as well.
Pastor C. Bernard Ruffin III named Assistant to Pastor Senger in 1980. From 1981 to 1983, they participated in “Community Connections” at Holy Comforter. This was in cooperation with St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. From 1984 to 1988, they provided office space for members of Families of Children Under Stress (FOCUS). This was under a D.C. grant with Lutheran Social Services.
The 40th Anniversary of Holy Comforter celebrated August 18 1985 with Bishop Zumbrun. In 1987, Ascension Day saw “Interim Sharing of the Eucharist”. St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church and Holy Comforter took part. Lutheran Ministry with the Developmentally Disabled begun February 26 1989.
The 45th Anniversary of Holy Comforter celebrated August 19 1990. The entire church roof was replaced in 1992. There was also a restoration of our facilities. Ownership of the rectory transferred to Pastor Senger in 1994.
Pastor Senger honored on his 40th Anniversary of service to Holy Comforter in 1999. Edgar “Pat” Heflin honored on his 30th Anniversary as organist and choir director. Bishop Schneider was present. Also present were DC Mayor Anthony Williams and Councilmen Brazil and Mendelsohn.
Holy Comforter marked its 55th anniversary August 13 2000. The Right Reverend Theodore Schneider acted as Celebrant and Preacher. He was Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Washington, DC Synod.
Holy Comforter has been deeply involved in the community. It helped start the Hillcrest Civic Association in 1989. The Skyland Area Revitalization Task Force met monthly in Holy Comforter’s common room. They oversaw the formation of a Merchant’s Association and redeveloped the old shopping area. The Meals on Wheels program started in 1974. It continues to hold its monthly Operating Committee meetings at Holy Comforter.
The Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter retired Pastor Franklin Gwynn Senger III in 2009, after his 50-year pastorate. Holy Comforter was active in the Society of the Augsburg Confession. It worked to promote a greater appreciation of the western liturgical tradition. It was one of the first Lutheran congregations in the Washington area to offer the Eucharist every Sunday. In the early 1960s, Holy Comforter was active in the movement to integrate the Hillcrest area and eliminate the system of real estate covenants.