In the heart
of the great northwest area of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., like a beacon
light on a hilltop, Shepherd Park Christian Church continues to hold aloft the
light of the Gospel at this crossroads of the world. The influence of this church and its
opportunity for service to this area were not dreamed of by those men and women
of faith who built the original church one hundred and three years ago. Heirs of a glorious past, we enter with
confidence the new millennium with new challenges and opportunities.
We are proud
of the history of our church and proud that it has played an important part in
the religious life of our Nation’s Capital.
The Shepherd Park Christian Church, formerly known as Park View
Christian Church and Whitney Avenue Christian Church, was organized in November
1899 and occupied the “Union Chapel,” a small brick structure built in 1877 and
previously used for a community Sunday School.
(Click here for Wikipedia - "Park View -- Washington, D.C. Structures of Historical and Architectural Interest -- Park View Christian Church")
A special
meeting of the congregation was held on March 28, 1945, at which time the
church voted unanimously to purchase four parcels of ground, which included
three lots and part of the fourth on the corner of Twelfth Street and Eastern
Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., as a suitable site of the future home of
the congregation. On September 16, 1945,
the congregation celebrated its Ground Breaking Ceremony. Excavation began on November 8, 1946. Construction work continued until the summer
of 1947.
The beginning of World War II and the rising cost
of building materials and labor delayed the Cornerstone Laying Ceremony and
made it impossible to continue with the completion of the building. Nevertheless, the basement was still prepared
and furnished for our Bible School and church services. The basement, the first unit of the building,
was then dedicated on Sunday, September 14, 1947.
The changing of the
church name from Park View to Shepherd Park Christian Church took place on
Sunday, August 29, 1948. As the
congregation entered the Golden Anniversary year, 1949, an extensive spiritual
campaign was organized to insure the completion of the Church building. Later, after that had been accomplished, the
educational wing and the balcony were added, and the church building was
completed. Most recently, the
congregation successfully added the Sacristy Room for communion preparation.
Past memories and present projects are fused
together in our future expectations. Our
history is woven with the magnificent web of relevant past—a past that is just
the prologue to our future. To meet the
needs of the present and the future, our current minister, Reverend Marcus
Leathers, our church leaders, and our congregation are helping make that
history. As we minister in the next one
hundred years, may we be found faithful in our calling.
As we move
forward with God’s help and our minister’s leadership and guidance, we are
assured that our church and its growth will be measured by the quality of its
purpose, its plans, and its programs.
Today, we share and work together in shaping the future.
Shepherd Park Christian Church has the opportunity
to have a great influence on our community, our nation, and our world; and we
want to seize that opportunity. It will
take dedication, energy, planning, determination, and the inspired spirit that
formed our congregation over one hundred
years ago.
