Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
By JOHN v. HORNER

By JOHN v. HORNER
Unprecedented population
gain and surging interest in re-
ligion have wrought significant
changes in the spiritual life OF
Metropolitan Washington.
Church membership is soaring.
The facilities of virtually every
place of worship are taxed by
record attendance at services.
All faiths have felt the impact
Of the postwar development.
Not all congregations have re-
acted similarly. however, to
changing conditions.
The outward movement Of
population has led some Wash
ington churches to vacate sites
downtown and follow their mem
bership toward the suburbs.
Others have held fast in the
heart Of the city.
When the old Mount Pleasant
Congregational Church was
built many years ago. it served
residents Of an area then re-
garded as suburban. But the
section around Columbia road
and Fourteenth street NV. be-
came an apartment and room
ing house section.
Most Moved Away
Most of the members moved
away and those who continued
to attend the church experienced
increasing difficulty parking their
automobiles. The congregation
eventually decided to move and
now it is the Westmoreland Con-
gregational Church on Westmore-
land circle.
When the Washington Hebrew
Congregation was built at Eighth
and H streets NV. in the 1905.
most members lived in the vicini-
ty. After they moved northwest
ward, the temple was relocated at
Massachusetts, avenue and Ma
comb street NV.
Another recent move was made
by st. Sophia's Greek Orthodox
Church, from Eighth and L
streets NV. to Massachusetts,
avenue near Wisconsin avenue.
Some denominations deter
mined to keep their downtown
churches though few members
still live near. They believe it
a good idea to have a church
centrally located.
Conducted Survey
A case in point is famed New
York Avenue Presbyterian. Be-
fore rebuilding few years ago
the congregation conducted a
survey which showed the men,
bership well distributed between
the District, points in Virginia
and Maryland. Instead Of NOV
ing to a suburb, the church put
up its new edif1ce at the same
site, 1913 H street NV.
Mount Vernon Place Method.
list Church remained at 900 Mas.
sachuSetts avenue NV. pri.
marily for the purpose of push.
ing its vigorous program fol
neighborhood children. The
church held its membership
though 80 per cent live at a dis
lance, by tieing individuals
closely to the work of small
groups within the church.
Most Protestant congregations
belong to the Washington Fed
GRAFTON of Churches, which op-
crates under a comfy agree
ment in esta blishing new
churches in new communities
Under the plan. a careful study
is made to determine which
denomination would best serve
each neighborhood.
In one suburban area recently
five denominations wanted to
establish churches in close prox-
unity to each other. Obviously
all could not be strong in men,
bers and finances. After a sur
Vey conducted under the comfy
arrangement, two denominations
withdrew their plans imme-
diately. In time, third decided
not to build. The two churches
established have done well.
They Cross Lines
One religious authority said
recently the people as a group
don't care about technical differ
ences between denominations.
They cross UNCONVENTIONAL lines
to worship, sometimes basing
| decisions upon a pastors person.
/ atty, an usher's cordial greeting
or the ease with which they can
park thier family cars.
! Most ministers in Metropoli-
tan Washington attribute in
creased church activity both to
/ the population growth and re-
newed interest in religion.
! The Rev. Paul r. Hunter Of
Rock Spring Congregational
Church, Arlington. said the in
creased interest is evident in
only parts of the country, Eight
/ years ago, his 43-year-old church
had 1875 members. It now has
500. The Sunday school expert
enced similar growth.