Our History

Faith Moravian Church of the Nation’s Capital was established as a congregation on May 25, 1985.

In the early 1970s, a group of Christian, determined, and hopeful family members made the life-changing decision to leave their homeland of Nicaragua, Central America, and begin a new chapter in the United States of America. Many of them found their way to the metropolitan areas of Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland — places where they hoped to build better lives and realize the dreams they carried in their hearts.

In the face of uncertainty, these families did what they had always done — they leaned on their faith as Moravians and held tightly to the social and cultural traditions that reminded them of home. Their faith became a source of comfort and strength, a connection to the life they had left behind and the community they longed to build.

However, there was one significant obstacle. While their hearts and prayers remained rooted in their Moravian traditions, Washington, D.C. did not have a Moravian church. It was a missing piece in their new lives — a spiritual home where they could worship in the ways they had known since childhood, gather as a community, and pass on their cherished faith and customs to the next generation.

Therefore, with that same faith and determination that had carried them across borders, they set out to find a home. The women of this group of Moravians — supported by the men in their families — came together and decided to continue their Christian legacy by forming The Washington, D.C. Moravian Women's Fellowship. The late Sister Hazel Blanford emerged as the leader, encouraging and guiding at least fifteen other women in regular monthly meetings. They organized themselves, including two non-Nicaraguan women, and held their first meeting in 1976.

In no time, a pattern and purpose for the group was firmly established — much singing of favorite Moravian hymns and Sankey songs (despite the lack of hymnals), long discussions about projects, and, of course, fellowshipping the Moravian way: through food.

The vision for this congregation was born through an early Christmas Love Feast celebration held on Sunday, December 12, 1982, for Washington, DC-area persons with Moravian backgrounds or interests. This service took place at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Northwest Washington, with Dr. George L. Lloyd, pastor of the United Moravian Church of New York, acting as celebrant. The group was blessed with the cooperation of Rev. Dr. Gordon L. Sommers (then President of the Eastern District Board), Bro. Ted Wilde, Rev. Robert E. Sawyer (then Pastor of St. Paul's Moravian Church), the St. Paul's congregation, participants from Trinity Moravian Church of New Carrollton, and many others who, though not members, remain Friends of Faith to this day.

As a result of the interest shown after this service, they sought permission to establish a Fellowship — thus, The Washington Fellowship was born. It met in homes and various other locations. Still, an important milestone came with its first Palm Sunday/Easter Service, held during a terrible storm on March 27, 1983 at All Souls Church on 16th Street, N.W., with Rev. Steadman A. Bent, then pastor of New York First Church, as celebrant. The Fellowship was on its way.

We were fortunate to have enjoyed as a semi-permanent home the premises of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, located on 23rd Street, NW, where our organizational process to become a church of the Eastern District was started in 1984 under the leadership of the late Bishop Stanley Thomas, our Mission Developer.  Our Charter was opened in May 1985 which was also the year that the Rev. Dr. Walter Eversley was called as our pastor, and we moved to Grace Lutheran Church on 16th Street, NW.  Our Charter closed and we became a fully recognized congregation on May 25, 1986.

The Thirteen Founders were: Hazel Blanford (deceased), Margaret Robertson, Bernice Omeir (Lloyd), Pearla Hall (deceased), Lucile Herring (deceased), Douglas Robertson (deceased), Donald Morant (deceased), Maxine Garrett (deceased), Louis Herring, Allan Johnson, Dorothy Zamora, Marco Zamora, and June Joseph.

Following Rev. Eversley’s departure in December 1987, Rev. Steadman Bent (deceased) was installed as our second pastor on July 31, 1988.  His departure in 1990 saw the installation of the Rt. Rev. C. Hopeton Clennon (1990 – 1994 (deceased) as our third pastor.  After years of prayer, hard work, and God’s help, we purchased our first, very own building at 3221 Sherman Avenue, NW, celebrating that victory on December 8, 1991.

Bishop Clennon’s departure in 1994 heralded the arrival and installation of Rev. Leslie McKoy (deceased) (1995-1999).  Under his guidance Faith grew, and we soon found ourselves in need of more space; thus started the arduous task of securing a new Church home.  Our goal was accomplished when on October 27, 1997 we dedicated our second home, this building, at 405 Riggs Road, NE.

With growth came challenges, and Faith faced many.  Rev. McKoy (deceased) left us in 1999.  Rev. Sarah Acker served as communion celebrant while we awaited a new pastor.  The Rev. Dr. Clarence Newsome was installed as our fifth pastor (2001-2003).  His departure heralded the Rev. Dr. Jerry A. Moore (deceased) as our Interim Pastor (1999-2003).  He was followed by our sixth pastor, Rev. Edward L. Turner, and by Rev. Keith Harke (deceased), Intentional Interim Pastor. 

On Sunday, September 29, 2013, we welcomed and installed our seventh pastor, Rev. Bevon H. White who served us until his departure on January 15, 2024.

Today, as we reflect on the remarkable journey of Faith Moravian Church of the Nation’s Capital, we are reminded that this story is not only about buildings, dates, and names — it is about faith, courage, and the unyielding determination of a community bound together by a love for God, for one another, and our Moravian heritage.

Faith Moravian Church stands today as a testament to what can be accomplished when people walk in faith, work in unity, and hold fast to the promises of God. The legacy of those founders — their prayers, labor, and dreams — lives on in every service held, every song we sing, and every life touched within these walls. As we look to the future, we do so with the same hope, faith, and resilience that brought us all Faith Church, believing that God, who has brought us this far, will continue to lead us forward.

To God be the glory, great things He has done — and greater things are yet to come.