About Us

In the Beginning...In the early part of 1861, a group of slaves from Caroline, Spottsylvania, Louisa, and Orange counties, Virginia, came to the District of Columbia to enjoy freedom from bondage.  Because there were no immediate homes available to them, they assembled in camps on government-owned land at Sixth and B Streets, SW Washington, DC.  It was on this land these slaves held meetings and gave thanks to God for deliverance.  White ministers from the U.S. Freedom's Bureau helped them.

On June 20, 1861, during the early years of the Civil War, the first prayer meeting was held in the home of Bro Robert and Sis Jane Terrill in Burkes Court.  Bro. Berkley Morris led these prayer meetings, which were well attended and thus became the beginnings of the First Baptist Church, Southwest Washington.

On May 11, 1864, Rev. Albert Bolding, Pastor of the Third Baptist Church, NW called a council of white and colored ministers to recognize this body of Christians as a church.  Since there was no other recognized Baptist Church in the city's Southwest section, it was called the First Baptist Church of Southwest Washington.  Although the council did not convene until May 1864, the church was well established and duly recognized as First Baptist Church Southwest.  It is for this reason that 1863 is recognized as the official church anniversary.

A Time of Growth…In 1958, after ninety-four years of worshipping in the same spot, the US Redevelopment Land Agency notified First Baptist members that they must abandon their church home.  A “look out” committee was formed and obtained the Wallace Memorial United Presbyterian Church, at New Hampshire and Randolph Streets, NW, Washington, DC for $250,000.  Under the leadership of Trustee George W. Carter, Chairman of the Trustee Board and members of the Transportation Committee, First Baptist marched into its new church home. 

A Time for Expansion…In 1989, an expansion plan was embarked upon to address the lack of suitable and adequate space for church related functions including church-school classrooms and space which has been a concern that had been discussed but not physically addressed.  The proposed expansion plan represents the initiation of Phase II of a plan.  This proposal also represents the first step to provide additional space for the church as cited for the last several years under the Church-adopted Goals and Objectives.