Turner Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church

Deep in the heart of Hyattsville, Maryland, stands the Turner Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church. A beacon of faith and resilience, the Turner Memorial AME Church’s story begins not in Hyattsville, but in the bustling streets of Washington D.C.. In 1915, a group of devout members from Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, felt a calling to establish a new congregation. They yearned for a spiritual home closer to their neighborhood, a place where their community could thrive. Their first meetings took place in a humble residence on U Street, NW, laying the foundation for what would become the Turner Memorial AME Church. The church’s first sanctuary, a modest red brick building at 5th and P Streets, NW, was dedicated in 1919. This marked a significant milestone, a testament to their unwavering faith and determination. The Turner Memorial AME Church thrived in this location for over five decades, becoming a cornerstone of the community. However, by the late 1940s, the congregation had outgrown their beloved church. They faced a dilemma: expand their current space or embark on a new chapter. Their decision was bold and unexpected. They acquired the former Adas Israel Congregation synagogue, a beautiful building at Sixth and I streets, NW, now known as the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. This move in the late 1940s was not just a relocation, it symbolized the church’s growth and its commitment to preserving history. The Turner Memorial AME Church continued to flourish at the Sixth and I location for another 52 years. Then, in 2003, the congregation dedicated a new chapter, a new home, in Hyattsville, Maryland. Pieces of the church’s rich history, echoes of its journey from a small gathering on U Street to a vibrant congregation in Hyattsville, are preserved at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C.. This allows the story of Turner Memorial AME Church, a story of faith, perseverance, and community, to continue inspiring generations to come.