Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
THE METROPOLITAN VIEWPOINT
New Religious Surge
Felt Throughout Area

The remarkable development
Of Annandale is reflected in the
brief history Of the Church Of
the Advent. Established barely
q year ago by IA Episcopalians
from the Falls Church, it now
has 200 members.
The congregation meets in the
Grange Hall but Is raising 9
building fund. The rector, tke
Rev. Leon N. Taylor. said ground
will be broken late in the sum-
mer for the first unit of an $780,
600 parish house. Its six-acre site
on Columbia road. bought two
years ago for $17,500. is valued
now at $4,000.
Cites Increases.
The Rev. Paul H. Groseclose.
pastor of the Colesville Meth
odist Church. said the people
are more God-conscious and
church. conscious" than ever be-
fore. He cites a membership in
crease Of 100 within the past
year, bringing the total to 504.
The Rev. Mr.. Groseclose holds
two services each Sunday morn
ing in order to accommodate
worshippers. Attendance exceeds
the membership. The Sunday
school has an enrolment Of 554
and there are activities through
out the week for young people.
the middle aged and older mem
bers. Numerous community Or
CARNATIONS meet in the church,
which hopes to double its seat
ing capacity soon with q new
structure.
The Meridian Hill National
Baptist Church, 1725 Kalorama
road NV, is another church
that has added 100 new MEM
bers within a year, for a total Of
more than LOO. The Rev. Roose-
welt Mcintyre holds three serv-
ices on Sundays, in addition to
the junior church worship.
The Blessed Sacrament Cath
Ollie Church in Alexandria, es-
tablished in 1916. now has 1,700
families in its parish. One Of its
principal activities is a 17-class-
room school at West Braddock
road and Quaker lane. It is at
tended by 800 children.
The Rev. M. T.. Quinn, the
pastor, said the parish appar-
emily will continue expanding.
1.-The American people realize
they must take the responsible
ity of world leadership" he said.
They feel the need for the di-
vine guidance of God"
Although the population Of
Greenbelt has not grown in pro-
portion to many communities.
the Lutheran church there is
registering substantial gains in
members and attendance. The
Rev. Edward H. Birner has noted
an increase of Is per cent within
the last few years.
At the Cheverly Community
Evangelical United Brethren
Church, the Rev. Roy H. Stetler
found a willingness to cross de.
nominational lines an important
factor in growth. He ranked it
with area expansion and interest
in religion.
"The younger generation in
volved in this metropolitan
growth" he said, ''is composed
generally of people not too much
concerned with particular de-
nominations.
Membership of the United
Brethren congregation has in
creased in 10 years from 212 to
900. AS in other localities, this
occurred while new churches
were established nearby.
Genuine Revival
Rabbi Leon Adler of Temple
Emanuel in Montgomery County
said he was convinced there is a
genuine revival of interest in
religion. He differed from some
ministers, saying:
1.-THE increase in religious
interest over the country has
absolutely nothing to do with
normal population growth-the
population has been growing
rapidly since the country's birth.
There is no correlation there"
Rabbi Adler said many people
attending worship today have no
previous background of church,
going. His three-year-old con-
gregation holds services in a
school and a Methodist Church.
It serves 212 families.
The congregation expects to
start construction this year on a
synagogue on Connecticut ave-
nue., south of the Kensington
town line. Across the street.
BaptistS have broken ground for
new church. A few hundred
feet away, Presbyterians are
building.
The last article in this series
on "The Metropolitan View
point" will appear in The Star
Friday. II will discuss the
impact Of population growth
uuOn communities.