Metropolitan A.M.E. Church
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Location: 1518 M Street, Northwest, Washington, DC 20005
Surnames/tags: Douglass Allen Clinton
Known to many in DC as Frederick Douglass's church.
The Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church (Metropolitan AME Church), located at 1518 M Street, N.W., in downtown Washington, D.C., is a historic church with a rich history.
Founding and Merger: The congregation was founded in 1838 as Union Bethel (Metropolitan) A. M. E. Church. In 1872, after the merger of Israel Bethel and Union Bethel A.M.E. Churches, the church became known as Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Construction and Architecture: In 1880, John W. Stevenson was appointed by Bishop Daniel Payne to be the pastor of the church with the purpose of building a new church.
The cornerstone for the new church was laid in September 1881. The new building, constructed by architect George Dearing, was dedicated on May 30, 1886. It is a Gothic Revival style church2. Significance: According to the church, it is the oldest continuously black-owned property in the original 10-mile-square parcel of the District of Columbia. The funerals of abolitionist Frederick Douglass (1895) and civil-rights activist Rosa Parks (2005) were held in the church. President Barack Obama attended services here on Sunday, January 20, 2013, before his second inauguration2. Historic Recognition: The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In May 2010, the National Trust for Historic Preservation added it to its list of 11 of America’s Most Endangered Places due to water damage and other structural problems requiring $11 million in renovations2. Recent Events: In 2020, a Black Lives Matter banner was stolen from the church and burned during a pro-Trump march. Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was later arrested and charged with destruction of property. In 2021, the church filed a lawsuit against both Proud Boys International, LLC, and Tarrio. In 2023, the District of Columbia Superior Court imposed civil penalties on the Proud Boys and its members for engaging in “hateful and overtly racist conduct” at the church2. The Metropolitan AME Church has played a significant role in African American history and continues to be a place of importance in Washington, D.C. 🌟🏛️13.
1518 M St NW, Washington, DC 20005 (202) 331-1426
http://www.metropolitanamec.org/history.asp
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