Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church

Did you ever hear of a church that started in a carpenter’s shed? The Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church, right here before us, boasts a fascinating history, originating in a humble carpenter’s shed on the White House grounds around 1795. Scottish stonemasons, toiling away on the construction of the presidential home, sought solace and community in shared worship. This small group eventually blossomed into St. Andrew’s Church. Their journey led them to various locations, a testament to their unwavering faith. They held services in private homes, then a frame structure at 10th and F Streets NW. Between 1802 and 1811, they gathered in a school on East Capitol Street, a Masonic Lodge near the Washington Navy Yard, and even within the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court chamber in the unfinished U.S. Capitol Building. In 1812, members of St. Andrew’s formally established the First Presbyterian Church. With contributions from Presidents James Madison and James Monroe, they built their “Little White Church under the Hill” on East Capitol Street, where the Rayburn House Office Building now stands. The church miraculously survived the British burning of the Capitol in 1814. The congregation thrived, growing to 114 members by 1821 and later erecting a brick edifice on 4½ Street NW that stood for over a century. In 1853, Reverend Byron Sunderland, a staunch abolitionist, began his 45-year tenure as senior pastor. A courageous act in a largely pro-slavery city, Sunderland invited Frederick Douglass to speak in 1866, when no other Washington church would do so. In 1930, due to urban growth, the First Presbyterian Church merged with the Church of the Covenant. This church boasted its own impressive history, having been founded in 1885 and flourishing under dynamic leadership. The merged Covenant-First Presbyterian Church ultimately received the designation of “The National Presbyterian Church” in 1947. The present-day Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church stands as a testament to this remarkable journey of faith. Its intricate stained-glass windows and towering presence serve as a beacon, echoing the enduring spirit of those early stonemasons who sought community and connection amidst the burgeoning capital city.