Religious Venues

Church Photo Throughout history, churches have played an important role in African American communities, providing leadership in social, political and economic arenas. Baltimore's churches continue to serve individuals and families in Baltimore's neighborhoods, expanding upon their legacies of faith and fellowship.

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 1300 Druid Hill Avenue; 410-523-4273: The oldest independent African American institution in Baltimore, Bethel was founded when a group of African Americans led by Daniel Payne Coker walked out of a Methodist Church because of racially segregated seating. Today, Bethel continues to have an impact on its local and regional communities.
First Baptist Church 525 N. Caroline Street; 410-675-2333: Founded in 1836 by ex-slave and lay minister, Moses Clayton, First Baptist was Maryland's first Black Baptist church. The church's archives feature manuscripts, pictures, articles and memorabilia dating back to the 1830s.
Leadenhall Baptist Church 1021 Leadenhall Street; 410-539-9334: Founded in 1873, Leadenhall is the second oldest Black church edifice in Baltimore, and home to one of the city's largest African American congregations.
Lovely Lane United Methodist Church and Museum 2200 St. Paul Street; 410-889-1512: Designed by the famous architect Stanford White in 1884, Lovely Lane is on the National Register of Historic Places. Considered the "mother church" of American Methodism, it was the first meeting place for the denomination's founders and their congregation. The museum contains portraits, hymnals and memorabilia from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Metropolitan United Methodist Church 1121 W. Lafayette Street; 410-523-1366: Also known as Lafayette Square Church, Metropolitan United can be traced to the leadership of Truman Pratt, founder of the Orchard Street Church. Pratt led prayer meetings here in 1825.
Orchard Street Church / Urban League 512 Orchard Street; 410-467-6400: Founded by former slave Truman Pratt, the Orchard Street Church was known to be a safe house on the Underground Railroad. Today it is the home of the Baltimore Urban League.
Saint Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church 1546 N. Fremont Street; 410-669-0512: Founded in 1888 and home to the first parish in the world dedicated to St. Peter Claver, Apostle of the Slaves, this church runs one of the oldest private elementary schools for African Americans in the country.
Sharp Street United Methodist Church 1206 Etting Street; 410-523-7200: Established in 1787, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Sharp Street is the home of Baltimore's first African American congregation. With ties to politics, civil rights and education, the church has a rich history. It served as host church for early meetings of the NAACP, and housed the seminary school that would later become Morgan State University.
St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church 1501 E. Oliver Street; 410-727-3103: Founded in 1864, St. Francis is the oldest African American Catholic church in the nation. The Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious order for women of African descent, founded its St. Francis Academy for women.
Union Baptist 1219 Druid Hill Avenue; 410-523-6880: Founded in 1852, Union Baptist became a center for the civil rights struggle. Its pastor was also the founder of the Colored Convention, which evolved into today's United Baptist Association.
Baltimore Cemetery 2500 E. North Avenue; 410-327-1101
Mount Auburn Cemetery c/o Sharp Street United Methodist Church 1206 Etting Street at Dolphin Street; 410-523-9488: Founded in 1872, Mt. Auburn was officially dedicated and named "The City of the Dead for Colored People." The resting place of African American leaders and history makers, this cemetery is also the burial site for many slaves who died while attempting to escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad.