Trinity Religious Temple Church

Trinity Religious Temple Church

Trinity Religious Temple Church (2024 16th St NW) is nestled between several rowhouses on a block of the same shortly after you cross over U Street. Unless you're driving slowly down 16th or on foot, you'll totally miss it. The building is a bit run down and the day I photographed it, the oil man was there delivering a tank of kerosene. Aside from what I observed on the outside, I don't know anything nor could I find any information on the interwebs about this church.

My guess is, it's a break-off of a larger denomination, probably a bit pentecostal or charistmatic in its worship, and very specific in its dogma. But that's just a guess. Aside from the oil man, I've never actually seen anyone go in or come out of this building, so it's all a bit of a mystery really. But then, isn't religion in general?

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

Universalist National Memorial Church

Universalist National Memorial Church--
"a liberal Christian church in the heart of the City"

The Universalist National Memorial Church (1810 16th Street NW) is "the national representative of the Universalist Church of America." The church is a merger of the Universalist faith and the Unitarians. It is located kitty-corner from the Scottish Rite 33' Supreme Council building. (In fact, I stood on the steps of the aforementioned to take this picture.)

Universalists worshiped in Washington, D.C., prior to the Civil War, but did not officially organize themselves until 1869. The church constructed and moved into this building in 1930. Designed by Francis H. Allen and Charles Collens, it reflects Romanesque architecture from the English, French, and Italian traditions. Allen and Collens were also the architects for the Riverside Church in New York and the Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

Scottish Rite 33'

Scottish Rite of Freemasonry--the national headquarters for the Supreme Council
(Taken at around noon on President's Day, 2008)

Several weeks ago, I featured photos from the Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. Masonic temples are not an uncommon sight in the D.C. area. On the corner of 16th and S Streets NW stands an imposing structure: The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Supreme Council 33’ (1733 16th Street NW.)

Sunday afternoon warmth at the Scottish Rite Temple

The cornerstone was laid in 1911 and the building was completed in 1915. It is the national headquarters of the Supreme Council and is an adaptation of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. The architect for the building was John Russell Pope who also built the Jefferson Memorial and the west wing of the National Gallery of Art.

Scottish Rite Temple at night (taken at midnight, to be precise)

The building is open to the public for guided tours. Unfortunately, I have yet to go inside. When I took the first picture, it was closed for President's Day. The second picture was taken on a Sunday and they were closed. And the third picture was taken after midnight. Obviously not open then either! However, you can take a virtual tour.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08 and 3/08

Church of the Holy City

The Church of the Holy City: Emanuel Swedenborg's theological teachings of
individualism and diversity as grounded in the teachings of Christ are found here.

Located at 1611 16th Street NW, the Church of the Holy City is home to members of the Swedenborgian Community. Having never heard of them, this is what I learned:

The religion is based on the theological writings of Swedish scientist and later theologian Emanuel Swedenborg. Fifteen years after his death, a group of individuals who admired his work gathered in London and formed a church based on his teachings.

Among their beliefs: Swedenborgians believe the Second Coming has already taken place and is ongoing at this time; we live in a spiritual and material world with the spiritual world being less clear to us until death; Jesus Christ was a manifestation of God made flesh; love is the basic element of reality and the source of all life; truth is the reality of love at work; humanity has free will and must develop that will into action; and scripture is literal and has a spiritual essence as well. Swedenborgianism stresses freedom, diversity, and individualism. To learn more, click here.

The Church of the Holy City was founded in 1846 and the sanctuary was dedicated in 1896. It was designed by Swedenborgian architect H. Langford Warren and features cut stonework on the exterior, a bell tower, and stained glass by Lamb and Tiffany. Currently, the church is in the process of restoring parts of the building that have aged and fallen into disrepair, but it remains open for services during these renovations and is available for meetings and weddings.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

Jewish Community Center of Washington

Jewish Community Center--Inspired, Enlightened, Fit, Involved in Washington, D.C.

While this isn't officially a church, it is the community center for Washington, D.C.'s, vibrant Jewish population. Like many East Coast cities, the Jewish community has been and remains an important part of the culture, economy, intellect, religious life, and politics in our nation's capital.

The Jewish Community Center of Washington (1529 16th Street NW) provides practical services like a fitness center and pool, as well as preschool, youth camp, and classes for kids. It also provides cultural events--plays, music, art and film--and social organizations like the Jewish Women's Project, the Kurlander Project for Gay and Lesbian Outreach and Engagement, and Behrend Adas Seniors Group, as well as a travel group and classes for adults.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

Foundry United Methodist Church

Foundry United Methodist Church--a reconciling congregation

Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th Street NW) is located about a mile north of the White House and is a vibrant part of community worship in the DuPont Circle neighborhood. Foundry UMC has been around for nearly 200 years in various locations, beginning in Georgetown and then later moving to 14th and G Streets. The name derives from a donation made by Methodist member and businessman Henry Foxall who "donated land and a building after his Georgetown iron foundry survived the British attack on Washington during the War of 1812."

The church has hosted Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Bill Clinton--all of whom were regular attendees. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill* of Great Britain attended a special service at Foundry UMC on December 25, 1941, not long after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The church is actively engaged in humanitarian causes, mission service, social justice, and is a participant along with 200 other United Methodist Churches as part of the Reconciling Congregation Movement.

* An article by conservative pundit George Will about Churchill's Christmas visit (found via Google search for information on Henry Foxall.)

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

First Baptist Church

First Baptist Church--Tradition and Ecumenism since 1801

In 1801, Baptists began meeting in the U.S. Treasury building in Washington, D.C. A year later, several laypeople and a few ministers organized a church and declared its mission to "serve as an additional inducement to such as may feel inclined to remove to this City; as also to traveling preachers of that denomination to visit their Brethren and preach in this place."

Prior to this building, the First Baptist Church of the City of Washington, D.C., (1328 16th Street NW) met in four other sites throughout the city, including the site where Ford's Theater is now located. In 1890, the congregation moved to its present location on 16th Street and in 1955 services were held for the first time in the sanctuary pictured above.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

Third Church of Christ, Scientist

Third Church of Christ, Scientist--an example of Brutalism architecture

Located on the northwest corner of 16th and Eye Streets NW is the Third Church of Christ, Scientist (900 16th Street NW)--just three blocks north of the White House. The church was designed by Araldo Cossutta, an architect in the renowned firm of I.M. Pei and is an example of Brutalism architecture--a movement in the 1950s and 1960s that called for the use of rough concrete as the building medium. Across the plaza from the church is a Christian Science Reading Room.

For many years now, the congregants of Third Church have petitioned to tear down what they consider an architectural eyesore and put up a church more fitting of the historical downtown setting in which they are located. Unfortunately, incomprehensively, and against the protests of the church and congregation, in 2007 the D.C. Historic Preservation Board voted 7 - 0 to grant the building landmark status. As a result, the building cannot be torn down or altered.

Needless to say, the architecture is incongruous with many of the buildings in the area--both historic and modern minimalist. It has occasionally been referred to as an apocryphal, doomsday fallout shelter or an electrical substation. That aside, the church is part of the coalition of churches called the Downtown Cluster of Congregations--a collaborative coalition of congregations throughout Washington working on social issues.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

St. John's Church, Lafayette Square

St. John's Episcopal Church and Parish House--The Church of the Presidents

This entry is the first in a series I'm starting on D.C. Confidential called "The Churches of 16th Street." From the foot of 16th Street at H Street all the way to the north where 16th Street ends at Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland, this street has more churches, synagogues, temples, and centers of religion than any other avenue or street in our Nation's Capital. (From 16th and H to 16th and Colorado alone there are nearly 40 places of worship and that's only 1/2 of the length of 16th Street!)

St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square (1525 H Street NW) is located on 16th and H Streets across from Lafayette Park and the White House. Founded in 1815, St. John's is known as "The Church of the Presidents" because of its proximity and ease of access to the White House. Throughout its history, every president since James Madison has attended a service at St. John's. Pew 54 is the Presidential Pew and when the church has occasion to host a president, that is where he sits.

The bell in the St. John's belfry was cast by Paul Revere's son, Joseph, in Boston in 1822. It is one of only two Revere bells in the city and the only one in continuous use to this day. The church was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe and is a national historic landmark.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08