The National Presbyterian Church is a Christian congregation of approximately 1,500 members of all ages from the greater metropolitan Washington, D.C., area. The mission statement of the church is "Leading People to Become Faithful Followers of Jesus Christ Together in God's World"
The congregation meets at 4101 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. Designated as the national church of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the building complex occupies a 12-acre campus comprising six separate structures. It includes a mid century modern style main church which is the third largest religious center in the nation's capital. President Dwight D. Eisenhower laid the cornerstone on October 14, 1967.Nannes, Caspar. “National Presbyterian Takes Step Into New Era Saturday." The Evening Star, B1, Washington, 12 October 1967.Clopton, Willard Jr. “Ike Loses Battle with Birthday Cake: Unveils Cornerstone for Church.” Washington Post, D1, 15 October 1967. The campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.
The site also includes the National Presbyterian School, which provides pre-school-to-Grade 6 education. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools and is open to all children.
The National Presbyterian Church dates its origins to 1795, when a group of Scottish stonemasons working on the construction of the White House met for worship.Jones, Olga. Churches of the Presidents, pages 22-33, Exposition Press, New York, 1954. Since then, the congregation has been housed in several buildings across the city. Numerous presidents as well as other national and international leaders have attended the church. In 1866, the pastor invited Frederick Douglass, noted black abolitionist, to speak from the church's pulpit when no other church in Washington other than New York Avenue Presbyterian Church would do so. The church has hosted the British royal family, Mother Teresa and many other notable leaders.Folliard, Edward T. “Elizabeth, Philip Bid Washington Farewell", Washington Times-Herald, A1, 21 October 1957.Dole, Kenneth. “News of the Churches: Royal Couple to Attend Two Church Services", Washington Times-Herald 19 October 1957.
The church today
The National Presbyterian Church conducts several weekly worship services as well as many other teachings, caring and music services for the community.
These services include biblical preaching, a full choir, hymns traditional and modern, and organ music of all periods. On special occasions, the musical offerings are augmented by members of local or visiting orchestral and choral groups, including members of the National Symphony Orchestra. Communion is served on the first Sunday of each month and is open to all persons within the Christian faith. Live video of the worship service is available online.
Teaching ministries Adult Christian education classes are held on Sunday mornings, and small group studies occur throughout the week. Sessions include Bible classes, as well as classes dealing with current issues and personal growth. Lectures, conferences, and seminars are frequently hosted, including meetings of the National Capital Presbytery and the Reformed Institute. The Children's Sunday School includes preschool, elementary and youth group classes. Child care is also provided.
The church also houses archives of historical documents, and contains a library with a full range of theological and historical books.
Caring ministries
The congregation and staff support numerous caring ministries, both in the local area and at many locations around the globe. They include: Local/regional outreach: food and hunger relief (Martha's Table and Central Union Mission), housing (Habitat for Humanity), youth services (Unique Learning Center), and social services (Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place) International missions Care, connection and support to congregants through a variety of ministries from Deacons and Stephen Ministers to hospital visits and prayer opportunities. Referrals are made to partner ministries such as GriefShare and DivorceCare as well as to professional counselors.
Other programs include small groups, men's ministry, women's ministry, older adult fellowship, children's and youth ministries and the Board of Deacons.
Music ministries
The 1,000-seat main sanctuary has one of the largest pipe organs in Washington, D.C. It accommodates a variety of musical styles in its worship and concerts.
The church's musical organizations include: Chancel Choir: leads worship singing at the traditional Sunday morning services and during special performances during the Christmas and Easter seasons or other times of the year. The choir includes both volunteers and professional artists. Festival Choir: performs larger choral works with orchestra and around 100 singers drawn equally from the congregation and the larger community. Contemporary Band: a keyboard based ensemble of singers and instruments such as guitar, bass, and drums leads the contemporary Sunday service.
Concert Series
The church is home to the “Music at National” concert series featuring major arts organizations for their subscription series and special events. Regulars include the Washington Bach Consort, the City Choir of Washington, Washington Master Chorale, the Washington Chorus, Choralis, the United States Army Chorus, the U. S. Navy Sea Chanters, and the Children's Chorus of Washington. College and university choruses or orchestras also perform during tours to the nation's capital.
Pipe organs
The sanctuary's John Jay Hopkins Memorial Organ, with 115 ranks and four manuals, is matched to the scale of the edifice. It was built by the Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company in 1968–1969 (Opus 1456). It is one of two Aeolian-Skinner organs in the church complex, the other being the 38-rank, 3-manual Allen Memorial Organ in the Chapel of the Presidents.
The main six divisions of the Hopkins Organ are located behind the choir at the front of the sanctuary with the pipework shielded from view behind a series of vertical screens. At the rear of the sanctuary, a 23-rank antiphonal division is located in the gallery balcony. It includes a brilliant state trumpet, which is mounted horizontally. The organ's inaugural concert was performed in April 1970 with Ernest Ligon at the manuals.Hume, Paul. “A Pipe Organ's Debut.”, Washington Times-Herald, 27 April 1970.
A new solo division of orchestral instrument “voices” was added to the Hopkins Organ in 2010. This enhanced the organ's versatility and size to over 6,500 pipes.
Architecture
In January 1966, the congregation acquired the current property and began the design and construction of a new church complex. A building committee considered several designs, and selected the Modernist/Neo-Gothic design by ecclesiastical architect Harold E. Wagoner. The limestone and steel structure was constructed by the Charles H. Tompkins Co. of Washington, D.C.Von Eckardt, Wolf. “Presbyterian Center: Mod-Gothicist Vision.” Washington Times-Herald, D1, 24 September 1968.
Main sanctuary The white marble and limestone sanctuary of The National Presbyterian Church seats 1,450 and has a traditional cathedral floor plan in the shape of a cross. The design of its ceiling gives the appearance of an inverted ship's bow, more specifically Noah's Ark, symbolizing its purpose as a place of refuge and safety. In accordance with Reformed Christian principles, the walls of the sanctuary were unadorned to focus attention on the preaching from the pulpit. The chancel area contains the liturgical cent with the pulpit, communion table and lectern which are the focus of the corporate worship. A raised tiered choir loft is behind the chancel with the screened organ chambers behind.
Faceted glass windows
The sanctuary is illuminated by 73 faceted stained glass windows designed by Willet Studios of Philadelphia. The windows comprise one of the largest collections of faceted glass in the United States. Described in detail in a book published in 2012, the windows range from the shorter windows lining the chancel sides that depict Bible stories to the two larger transept windows, each made of eight tall lancets. The north transept window contains abstract designs drawn from images in the book of Revelation. The text at the top reads "I know that my Redeemer liveth and at last will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:25).
The south transept window depicts the mission of the church, showing historical figures in science, art, politics, and ecclesiastical endeavors such as astronauts. The text at the top reads "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10).
The designers of the main church building also incorporated space for the traditional 19th century Tiffany and Booth stained glass windows saved from the historic previous church. Other stained glass windows, new and antique, are visible around the campus.
Chapel of the Presidents The Chapel of the Presidents, which seats 255, provides a more intimate setting. Another series of Willet Studios windows located in the Chapel of Presidents depicts, in the major window, the history of the struggle to maintain religious freedom in America. There are also six windows portraying specific Presidents (Washington, Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Eisenhower, for whom the chapel is named and whose original prayer is printed on the outer wall).
Tower of Faith The Tower of Faith is a structure that provides a landmark for the site. It contains a bell carillon consisting of 61 Flemish bell-tone generators in bronze struck by hammers, manufactured by the Schulmerich Carillon Company. In addition, there are 25 English bells, relocated from the tower of the Church of the Covenant. Both sets are playable from either organ console in the main sanctuary or the chapel."Bell Tower Framework Completed." Washington Times-Herald, B1, January 17, 1968.
The Tower of Faith sustained some minor damage during the 2011 Virginia earthquake, and required structural repairs.
Courtyard and other buildings Six other buildings surround the main sanctuary structure. Originally part of the Hillcrest Children's Home, the Cotswold-style stone structures now house the National Presbyterian School, offices, and meeting spaces. The rear of the site includes a parking area, which is used during the work week by employees from adjacent sites including WRC (NBC4) TV. An acre immediately in front of the sanctuary building (facing Nebraska Avenue, NW) is landscaped and contains a marble Fountain Court and stone walls engraved with Biblical verses.
History
Early years The congregation that eventually became The National Presbyterian Church traces its heritage to the 18th century when Scottish stonemasons constructing the White House began holding Sunday morning worship services in a carpenters' shed on the White House grounds. By 1795, the group had grown large enough to form St. Andrew's Church and to install John Brackenridge as its minister. Church members met in private homes until 1800 when they occupied a frame structure at 10th and F Streets, NW. The small group persisted, meeting in several places between 1802 and 1811 including a school on East Capitol Street, a Masonic Lodge between 1st and 2nd Streets near the Washington Navy Yard, and even the Supreme Court of the United States chamber on the ground floor of the unfinished United States Capitol.
First Presbyterian Church
Members from the St. Andrew's group officially established First Presbyterian Church on September 15, 1812. With contributions from James Madison and James Monroe, among others, the congregation erected a frame structure. This “Little White Church under the Hill” was located on East Capitol Street on the south slope of Capitol Hill, where the Rayburn House Office Building now stands.