History of
Kensington Baptist Church
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
[Acts 2:42]
The Kensington Baptist Church, like the church established by the Apostle Paul at Philippi, was started largely as a result of the efforts of a godly woman. Lydia, a first century business woman, made her home available to the missionary Paul for the beginnings of the Philippian church.
Kensington Baptist Church was constituted on October 11, 1922, as a result of the determined efforts of Mrs. Ida Simms. Mrs. Simms led in enlisting 27 charter members of the new Baptist church which first held services in a tent on Dupont Avenue in north Kensington, MD. Worship was held under the leadership of Rev. Frank Farley and Rev. H. H. Nicoll. The church called Rev. Nicoll as its first pastor.
The official roster of the first officers of the church was as follows: 1922, Sunday School Superintendent, W.J. Brooks; Clerk, H.M. Flinn; Treasurer, W.M. Matthews; Trustees, H.M. Brooks, Dr. Edward Speider, W.F. Matthews, H.M. Flinn, W.J. Brooks, Smith Putnam. 1923, Deacons, H.M. Brooks, W.J. Brooks, Cyrus Sherman, Edgar Thomas, George Schneider; Deaconess, Mrs. Ida L. Simms.
During the past 104 years 25 pastors and interim pastors have served the church.
At the original property on Dupont Avenue (now the location of Capital One Bank) the church meeting place grew from a tent to a temporary building in 1922 to a comfortable building in 1926. A parsonage nearby was purchased, part of which was used for Sunday School, an annex was built, and social rooms at the Kensington Fire House were rented for Sunday School. By the early 1950’s there was a growing need for more space to serve the growing congregation.
In 1954, under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Guy Saunders, the church purchased the present property at Connecticut Avenue and Dresden Street, then known as the F. Regis Noel estate. New building construction was begun in 1956. The second floor of the educational building was added in 1960. In the early 1980’s the church decided to remodel, resulting in the configuration you see today.
Kensington Baptist Church in 1954
Noel Residence-Parsonage in 1954
Over the years the church has been a Bible believing, evangelistic, missionary, cooperating Baptist church with special love and care for members who have needed help both spiritually and physically. Kensington Baptist Church is officially aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), the DC Baptist Convention (DCBC), and is active in the Mid Atlantic Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (MACBF).
As a result of its missionary spirit the church has participated in the planting of five other churches: Georgia Avenue Baptist Church, Ashton Baptist Church, Colesville Baptist Church, Calverton Baptist Church, and Viers Mill Baptist Church.
In addition, the church has sent missionaries to other countries, including Thailand, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Japan, and Germany. Since 2018, the church has supported an MACBF partner mission center in Uganda (Refuge in Hope).
Kensington Baptist is committed to ministering to the community, supporting Bethesda Help and Interfaith Works with essential needs donations. In its many years of ministry in this community the church has offered ESL classes, citizenship preparation classes, health screenings, community flea markets, nursing home ministries, and more.
The church has hosted a variety of congregations and other community groups. Today we are blessed to host the Parent Encouragement Program, the Iglesia La Voz de Cristo al Mundo congregation, and Kingdom Life Empowerment Church as well as welcoming groups such as the Trinity Chamber Orchestra of Washington, the Listen Local Concerts, and our newest group; Pedalheads bike camp.
List of Pastors and Interim Pastors
Rev. H. H. Nicoll Nov. 1922 to Dec. 1928
Rev. N. E. Harrington Nov. 1929 to Dec. 1931
Rev. J. P. Scruggs Jan. 1932 to Sept. 1935
Rev. O. Eure Jan. 1936 to Sept. 1936
Rev. W. Scott June 1937 to Oct. 1937
Rev. C. E. Jones June 1938 to May 1947
Rev. E. Y. Averett Aug. 1947 to Dec. 1949
Rev. K. W. Knox April 1950 to Jan. 1953
Rev. Guy Saunders March 1953 to Nov. 1958
Rev. W. C. Ballback April 1959 to June 1959
Rev. W. Barry Garrett (Interim) July 1959 to Oct. 1959
Rev. Thomas Painter Nov. 1959 to Feb. 1968
Rev. Rex Bennett Sept. 1968 to Aug. 1972
Rev. Charles Barnes (Interim) Sept. 1972 to Jan. 1973
Rev. C. P. Morell Jan. 1973 to April 1980
Rev. R. G. Puckett (Interim) April 1980 to Aug. 1980
Rev. E. C. Seddon Aug. 1980 to April 1984
Rev. J. O. Duncan (Interim) May 1984 to June 1986
Rev. Jerry L. Martin June 1986 to Dec. 1999
Rev. Burnis Barrett (Interim) Feb. 1999 to Dec. 2000
Rev. Charles Barnes (Interim) Jan. 2001 to Jan. 2002
Rev. William (Bill) C. George Feb. 2002 to Feb. 2022
Rev. Gayle Clifton (interim) April 2022 to July 2023
Rev. Michael Newheart (interim) June 2024 to June 2025
Rev. Jill McCrory October 2025 (current)
Kensington Baptist Church at the time of its first service (1956).
