508 Dolphin Street
Baltimore, MD, USA

National Register of Historic Places - Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church and Community House

Statement of Significant:

In the late 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries the Church was one of the most important institutions in the black community. It was a major religious, social, economic, and often political force in the lives of black people. The Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church is one of the oldest black congregations in Baltimore, and the continuing support of its congregation makes it one of the most influential, for Architecturally the building is a good example of the Gothic Revival Its mass is broken style and contributes to the surrounding streetscape. up into three parts, reflecting the scale of the neighboring rowhouses. The stepped increase in height to the tower both emphasizes the corner and shows a concern for the adjacent cornice line.

HISTORY
The history of the Sharp Street Church as a separate, black Methodist congregation dates from 1787. The congregation purchased its first parcel of land in 1802. Until that date the black membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church worshiped in the gallery of the Lovely Lane Chapel (German Street, Baltimore) and numbered one-third of the denomination. Free blacks built the Sharp Street Church in 1802 on Sharp Street between Lombard and Pratt in South Baltimore. This church served the black community, both free and slave.

In the 19th century, a strong inclination existed in the black community toward secret orders. Sharp Street Church became the central meeting place for such groups, including Zion Lodge #4, organized March 4, 1848 in the halls of the church. The need for guidance became a major thrust in terms of the mission of the church. The church became not only a place to meet, but also a place to organize and plan strategies. In 1864 black men met at Sharp Street Church to discuss enlistment in the army, to fight for the freedom of slaves and the survival of a divided nation.

The records show that as late as 1853, in addition to the church school, a day school was organized for blacks. The church facilities provided the foundation which later became the nucleus for the first colored public- school in Baltimore after the abolition of slavery. The Church also concerned itself with the economic status of its members, serving as an employment agency. Because opportunities for employment were limited, the experience and training received were valuable assets.

Those persons serving in leadership capacity not only the lives of the members, but also the institution of the black church. Prior to 1864, the pastor of Sharp Street Church considered the possibility of organizing a Conference in order to place black ministers in a greater policy-making role. According to the minutes and Journal of Proceedings, the First Annual Conference of Black Pastors convened at Sharp Street Church on October 27-31, 1864. The petition included five churches in Baltimore and one each in Annapolis, Frederick, Hagerstown, Sandy Spring, Calvert, and Prince George in Maryland; and three in Washington, D. C., and one in Alexandria, Virginia. The pastor of Sharp Street Church was elected Secretary of the Conference.

Trained leadership became one of the primary objectives of this institution. Faced with the need for trained preachers and Christian community leaders, a school was established under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Centenary Biblical Institute, now Morgan State University, held its first classes in the halls of Sharp Street Church (1867-72), until a building could be located.

Sharp Street as a viable institution served humanity in many ways. Alert to the needs of its members and people in general, a cemetery the congregation was purchased in 1872 for its black congregation. demonstrated an interest in its aged members and others, and in 1870, purchased a home for the elderly.

Still concerned about the best method to serve the people, Sharp Street Church faced a problem. Around 1890 the membership began a migration Blacks bought homes in the from South Baltimore to Northwest Baltimore. Druid Hill district of the city, (approximately 15,000 people) and the congregation located in the northwestern section of the city. A lot was purchased on the northwest corner of Dolphin and Etting Streets and the church building was completed and ready for occupancy on October 15, 1898. The edifice was named Sharp Street Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church. The church now served the needs of its new community as well as maintaining (contact) with the old. In 1896 a parsonage was purchased at 507 West Lanvale Street. In 1969 a new parsonage was purchased at 3602 Cedar Dale Road.

During World War I, there was a great migration of workers to Baltimore. Female immigrants looking for wholesome living conditions and supervised A Community House with accommodations were in need of a place to stay. dormitory rooms for single women were built in 1921 at 1206 Etting Street Such activities as sewing bees, sports events, adjacent to the church.

social gatherings, and prayer services in the Chapel, parlor, and gymnasium provided a calendar of events for the whole family. The Community House now reflects a changing emphasis in the program of the church. The facilities now include a room for the Pastor's study, a History and Records Room, library, War Room for political awareness, administrative offices, and council meeting rooms for the various organizations of the church.
The congregation of Sharp Street pioneered in many enterprises. Thirteen of the members in search of liberty were among the pioneer settlers of Liberia, Africa. One of the most significant organizations to establish its roots in Sharp Street was the Baltimore Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

The church is now concerned with urban renewal and improving its effects on the immediate community, church life, reemphasizing the Christian education program, seeking an "open" program designed to relate to the youth of the church, and developing programs to keep the church a functioning part of the community.