Shiloh Baptist Church is a
Baptist
Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
church located in
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
20001 in the historic
Shaw District. The church was founded in
Fredericksburg, VA in 1804.
History
Origins in Fredericksburg VA
The Shiloh Baptist Church was organized by its white members in 1804. The church's membership included some free blacks but most were slaves. The black members were subjected to segregated seating. The church was sold to African American members in 1854, and this congregation was led by a white pastor.
[From Strength to Strength: A Journey of Faith 1863-1988, p. 25]
Civil War
At the start of the Civil War in 1861, Shiloh had about 750 members. The Civil War disrupted the church's life but also brought the possibility of equality for blacks. The Shiloh religious services were discontinued when the Union Army wanted to use the church as a hospital because of a planned attack on Fredericksburg in June 1862.
The Union Army protected and helped the slaves and free blacks escape to Washington D.C. About 400 members of the Shiloh Baptist Church of Fredericksburg arrived in Washington D.C. Once in Washington D.C., they became free civilians in April 1862 when Congress emancipated the slaves of the District of Columbia.
Move to Washington, D.C.
1862
Sunday School directed by J. McCleary Perkins, a white Union soldier, met in shanty on L St NW between 16th and 17th Streets. White and black teachers gave instruction on religion and basic reading and writing.
1863
January 1 - Emancipation Proclamation.
September – Shiloh Baptist Church granted recognition by council. Rev. William Walker elected first pastor.
1864
Membership purchased building on L St NW between 16th and 17th.
1869
Membership numbered 243. Purchased larger building with Fredericksburg funds.
Growth of the church at current location
1924
Shiloh moves to 9th and P Streets. L Street property sold for $60,000. 9th and P and adjacent property purchased in November 1924.
1945
First black church to unite with the Council of Church Women.
1950
Carter Woodson, a church neighbor, was a guest speaker for Negro History Week (an annual participation until his death).
1980
Ted Kennedy
Edward Moore Kennedy (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts who served as a member of the United States Senate from 1962 to his death in 2009. A member of the Democratic Party and ...
addressed the congregation of the church as part of
his presidential campaign of 1980.
1991
A fire nearly destroyed the entire church building.
Presidential visits
President
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...
and his wife
Nancy attended a performance of spirituals and gospel music, hosted by
Leontyne Price
Leontyne Price ( born Mary Violet Leontine Price February 10, 1927) is an American spinto soprano who was the first African-American soprano to receive international acclaim. From 1961 she began a long association with the Metropolitan Opera. ...
in December 1983. The choir of
Howard University
Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...
appeared alongside Price; other performers included
Lillias White, Kevette Cartledge, David Weatherspoon, and the Richard Smallwood Singers.
It was broadcast as the 1983 Christmas Special of ''
In Performance at the White House''.
President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, ...
addressed the congregation as part of
Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign.
On April 24, 2011,
President
President most commonly refers to:
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* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
and his family attended the Easter Sunday service at the church, the first presidential visit to the congregation.
References
External links
*
Cultural Tourism DC: Shaw Heritage TrailFredericksburg Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia
{{Coord, 38, 54, 35, N, 77, 1, 27, W, display=title
Baptist churches in Washington, D.C.
African-American history of Washington, D.C.
Shaw (Washington, D.C.)
1863 establishments in Washington, D.C.