Evening star., 1949-03-04
Truman Church
Plans Project
Costing Million
$500, 900 Drive Voted;
First Building to Be
Started in 1850

Work is scheduled to begin in
the spring of 1850 on a new
$1,000,000 building program for
the First Baptist Church, Six
teenth and o streets NV, where
President Truman attends serv-
ices, it was disclosed today.
Members of the church voted
last night to launch a 100000
building-fund drive after Easter
to supplement a present fund Of
$150,000. The drive will continue
until the church's sesquicentennial
observance March 7, 1852.
Cramped for space in the pres
ent building, the membership now
is considering plans for construc-
ton of a four story church seating
$500, q large social hall and a
chapel. The building will be Of
Gothic design and the architects
are Thomas & Waggoner Of
Philadelphia.
With present funds, the church
plans to start the first phase of it's
building program next year with
construction of a training and
activities building which eventu-
ally will be an integral part of the
main church structure.
DR.. Edward H. Pruden, pastor,
said it is anticipated that work
on the first phase of the building
program will begin on a vacant
lot behind the church.
Attendance Rise Cited.
Church officials said attendance
has grown to such an extent that
two morning services have been
necessary each Sunday for eight
years to accommodate members
and visitors.
They said attendance at Sunday
school classes has broken records
from week to week. and it recently
has been almost impossible to &C
commodate the growing classes.
Earlier this year, members Of
the church conducted a brief cam
paign in which approximately
$50, 900 was contributed or pledged.
The church is one of the oldest
in Washington. Its organization
dates back to March 7, 1902, when
the Baptist Church of Washing
ton City" originated with six
charter members who met in the
basement of the Treasury Build
ing.
ince then, the church has had
four locations. Its second site was
near Tenth and E streets NV.
That property was sold to John
Ford. who built theater which
later burned down. Another the
ater on the site was the one in
which Lincoln was assassinated.
Church Redecorated in 1888.
The founders of 'The Baptist
Church of Washington City," a
title later changed to the present
one, erected a brick church at
Nineteenth and I streets NV,
which was dedicated in the fall
of 1902. The building was sold
to the colored Baptist member
ship in 1888.
After sale of the Tenth street
structure. the church met at the
building at the Fourth Baptist
Church" Thirteenth near H street
NV, which consolidated with the
First Baptist.
The first services in the present
building was held January IL.
1890. The church was redeco-
rated and refurnished in 1888.
Three additional muildings on
Sixteenth street and a large lot in
the rear of the church, on o
street, have been acquired in re-
cent years.
Members of the Building and
Promotions Committees who have
led in the efforts to get the build
ing program under way are:
Building Committee, Thomas r.
Wilson, chairman; Miss Elizabeth
Clark, Charles B. McInnis, Elgin
Smith, Leonard sBaber, Mrs.
Grover c. Carr, Leland Parkhurst
and Henry w. Riley.
Promotions Committe, Mr.. Nc
Innis, chairman; Mrs. Martha
Ellen Parkhurst, Carey Shaw, Mrs.
Chico Spencer. John Halko. Jesse
Manbeck, Mr.. and Mrs. John New.
Mrs. J. K. Lauderdale, Leonard
Baber. J. R. Latimer, Prof. Oscar
Autritt. Representative Priest.
Democrat. of Tennessee and Mrs.
j. M. Dawson.