Viewing page 11 of 24

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

a gift, of the late Mrs. Minnie B. Smoot, pioneer business woman of Anacostia and a zealous worker in the chapel for many years. The pews, organ, and other furnishings were given by the member. In 1948, property next door to the chapel was purchased for a vicarage.

Some of the former clergymen who have helped in the development of the chapel of St. Philip, the Evangelist are:

Rev. F.I.A. Bennett, Rev. William Victor Tunnell, Rev. S. Henry White, Rev. George Fisher, Rev. L.A. King, Rev. Edward Douse, Rev. J.A. Mayo, Rev. L.M. Alexander, Rev. John Burgess, Rev. Theodore J. Jones.

The present vicar is the Rev. Cornelius R. Dawson.

The Chapel Committee for the Chapel of St. Philip the Evangelist is as follows:

Mr. N.A.G. Scott, Sr. Warden; Mr. W.L. McLendon, Jr. Warden; jMr. Granville Curley, Register; Mrs. F.S. McLendon, Treasurer; Mrs. Claudine Scott, Mrs. Mildred Lee, Mr. Maurice Lee, Mr. J.B. Taylor, Mr. Ira Hayes, Mr. A.S. Smith, Mr. H.J. Washington, Mr. Sidney Parker.

F.S. McLendon & A.C. Robinson
Interview with Mrs. F.S. McLendon, 
Granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. R. Smith 
Documented from Records of Church
* * *

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

This church has had a full and interesting history. In 1911 the Negro members of St. Teresa's Church decided that they wanted their own parish church. Louis Cooke and Charles Edelin, with a letter from the Pastor of Saint Teresa's, set out to see Cardinal Gibbons. Soon afterward, they were given permission to start on their  work. Now came the question of getting money to finance this great undertaking.

Under the guidance of their newly acquired Assistant Pastor, Rev. Franz Schneeweiss, the enthusiastic ones met with one of the parishioners one evening in September, 1915.