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Calvary Episcopal Church began in June, 19O1 when The Rt. Rev. Henry Yates Saterlee, first Bishop of Washington, summoned the Rev. Franklin Isaac Abraham Bennett to come to Washington and open a new Episcopal Mission. Fr. Bennett selected to a store-front building located at 1303 11 Street, NE. While this site was being prepared, the first meeting was held at 1262 Florida Avenue, NE with nine persons in attendance. |
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Bishop Saterlee suggested the mission be named St. Simon Cyrenian, but Fr. Bennett and the members choose the name Calvary because of the inspiration of the Bishop’s work at Calvary Church in New York. Bishop Saterlee agreed and always referred to the mission as “Little Calvary”. He opened Calvary Mission at 1303 11 Street, on February 2, 1902.
In a short time, Calvary Mission had outgrown its storefront location and purchased a lot at the corner of 11th and G Streets, NE. The corner stone for the new building was laid on March 8, 1909. Later, Fr. Bennett donated a building located next to the church to serve as a rectory. In 1941, Calvary no longer needed the financial support of the diocese. By an act of the Annual Convention of the diocese of Washington, the Mission became a self supporting separate congregation to be known thereafter as Calvary Episcopal Church. |
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After serving Calvary for 40 years, Rev. Bennett retired in May, 1941. However, before his retirement he began the search for his successor. The search, lead him to the Rev. James 0. West, Jr. who was called by Calvary’s vestry on June 24, 1941, to be rector. On August 3, 1941, Rev. West began rectorship of Calvary Episcopal Church. The next eight years were marked by vigorous activity and growth. Many new organizations and programs were started. This dynamic activity along with already established inreach and outreach programs made Calvary a beacon of light emanating from 11th and G Streets. Membership grew from about 175 in 1941, to approximately 500 in 1949. The parish was bursting at the seams. |
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The Rt. Rev. Angus Dunn, fourth Bishop of Washington, realizing the dilemma facing Calvary, offered them the larger church building of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at 6th and I Street, NE, our present location. Calvary accepted and on September 18, 1949 the property was transferred to Calvary. The first Sunday service was held in the new location on December 18, 1949. |
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Mementos brought to the new location from “Little Calvary Church” included the stained glass windows:
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Old Testament Window, Moses - The Sower;
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The Prodigal Son - The Good Samaritan;
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Stilling the Storm - Christ Among His Friends;
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The Visit of the Wisemen - The Announcement of the Shepherds;
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The Baptism of Lydia - The Baptism of Christ;
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Old Testament Window, Isaiah - The Manger Window; and
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The Rose Window, Head of Christ.
These windows were originally installed in 1939 at 11th and G Streets, NE and transferred to 820 Sixth Street, NE in March, 1950; the hand carved eagle, a symbol of the spread of God’s word, was given in recognition of the members of Calvary who served in the armed forces in World War I, 1917 - 1919. Names are recorded in the cabinet in front of Bennett Chapel. |
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Going into the larger Church, with a larger Parish Hall, additional classrooms and a gymnasium, meant greater responsibilities, and called for many adjustments and larger expenditures. With God’s help, Calvary’s transition was more or less smooth and without confusion. Operational expenses, though greatly increased were met. From the Confirmation Classes of 1950 and 1951, one hundred and fifty-four persons were added to the Church, thirteen added by transfers from other parishes.Calvary continued to thrive and as it did, became well known throughout the city for its outreach programs to help the needy. Outreach programs included provision of food, clothing, counseling, referrals and on the spot financial aid when direly needed, Saturday morning breakfasts served at Calvary to the homeless; and numerous community services and outreach projects performed by Calvary’s guilds and organizations.
In March of 1990, the Rev. James 0.West, .Jr. retired after 49 years of faithful service as rector of Calvary. Calvary is a unique parish, noted for its inspirational and stable leadership and documented by the fact that the Rev. Franklyn I. A. Bennett and the Rev. .James 0. West, Jr. served with distinction as rectors of Calvary for a combined total of almost ninety years. |
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The Rev. Canon Edmund Ilogu served as Calvary’s interim rector from 1990 until 1992 (On June 28, 1992, the Rev. Theodore A. Daniels was installed as the third rector of Calvary. He is the first rector of Calvary to be selected by a vestry based on the recommendation of a search committee representing the membership. The search process provided Calvary an opportunity to reflect on the past, present, and future of the church. In June 1997, after serving a period of five years as rector of Calvary Episcopal Church, Rev. Daniels was ordained the fourth Bishop of the Virgin Islands. Following Rev. Daniels’ departure, the vestry authorized the calling of Rev. Earl A. Neil as the interim Rector of Calvary in September 1997. During this interim period, the guilds, organizations, and members of Calvary continued time various activities of inreach and outreach. Rev. Neil served faithfully until September 2000. |
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In August 2000, the Vestry issued a call to the Rev. Thomas W.S. Logan, Jr. to become the fourth Rector of Calvary. The call was accepted and on September 10, 2000, Rev. Logan conducted his first sermon at Calvary. He was installed at the service for “The Celebration of a New Ministry” on January 14, 2001. In April of 2006 Rev. Logan’s health prevented him from continuing as Rector.
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In January of 2007, the Rev. Prince A. Decker was called as interim rector. |
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