In February 1950, the members of Fountain Memorial Baptist Church, under the direction
of Reverend Frank B. Burgess, voted to purchase an acre of land on Pennsylvania Avenue, Southeast, at a cost of thirty
thousand five hundred dollars. The land was purchased with the intent of establishing a Baptist church on the property at the earliest date
possible. This was based on the assumption that Fountain Memorial would continue to exist in its present location and that the transition of
its membership to the new church would be on a voluntary basis. In June 1950, it was recommended that the new church be referred to as the
Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church. At the same time, a thirty thousand dollar club was established with the primary goal of
paying the balance due on the property. Thus, the property was paid for in less than two years.
On March 31, 1954, the Missions Committee of Fountain Memorial canvassed the church membership in order to ascertain where each member felt
called to work – Fountain Memorial or Pennsylvania Avenue. Approximately one hundred persons stated a desire to work in the new church and
attended the organizational meeting on April 25, 1954. It was during this meeting that the designated individuals resolved to form the church
known as Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church.
The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church was constituted on May 30, 1954, into a separate and distinct Baptist church fellowship with the
churches in the D.C. Baptist Convention. The new congregation held its first service on June 6, 1954 in its temporary quarters at the Anacostia
Masonic Lodge Hall located at Fourteenth and "U" Streets, Southeast. Due to the enthusiasm of beginning a new mission field, the members
organized themselves into working committees for the building program. The structure of the church placed educational emphasis on Sunday School
and Training Union.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the chapel, the first unit of the church, was held on April 29, 1956. An humble and thankful people entered
a new place of worship on Sunday, June 16, 1957. By this time, the church membership had increased to two hundred sixty-five and the Sunday School
to an enrollment of two hundred thirty-five. A motto had been adopted by the members of the church, "Building Together With God,
" which was printed on all church bulletins, signs, and the like. The dedication service for the chapel was held on June 30,
1957.
On March 31, 1963, the groundbreaking service for the second unit of Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church was held. To the glory of God, the first
service was held in the new building on September 6, 1964. The membership had now grown to six hundred eighty. Two units of thirty thousand square
feet comprised the main sanctuary, educational facilities, a kitchen, offices, a library and a fellowship hall. During the spring of 1998, the
fellowship hall was named Harvey Hall in memory of charter member and deacon William "Bill" Harvey.
The church replaced the aging school bus with a new bus and van to bring children and others needing transportation to Sunday School,
Wednesday night dinner, Bible Study and age level mission activities. These vehicles also transported members to Central Union Mission, nursing
homes, shopping, and field trips. PABC received gifts of two properties and purchased a home adjacent to the church.
To meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of a changing membership, the church established a listing of needs to maintain the
church building while recognizing ministries for single parent households, youth whose parents may or may not be members of the congregation, young married couples with
infants and toddlers, and a growing number of senior adults with physical needs.
The ministries of PABC reflect changes in church membership in terms of race, age, and gender. Sunday School provides breakfast from 8:45am
to 9:15am. The Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) embraces the global concept of "Women on Mission" and continues its local and global service. Women have participated
in two conferences for spiritual renewal. We continue to use music as a means of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ at all worship activities. The Sanctuary
Choir features annual Christmas and Easter concerts, which include creative dance and drama performances by members of the youth ministry. An annual New Members’ Banquet
and Fifth Sunday Fellowship assist in acquainting new members of PABC and its officers. The Deacon Family Care Ministry is committed to establishing
and maintaining ongoing contact with every family of our church.
