U Street Corridor in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church

1425 V Street, NW

— African American Heritage Trail, Washington DC —

Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 4, 2008

1. Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church Marker

Inscription. St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church began in 1858 when African American congregants of the Saint Matthew's Church departed to organize their own day school. The group raised funds -- even held an event on the White House lawn -- and eventually constructed a school and a chapel on 15th Street, north of L Street. Opening in 1866, the Blessed Martin de Porres School and Chapel soon became the center of a separate black parish, St. Augustine's. In 1961 the church merged with the predominantly white St. Paul's Church at this corner to form Saints Paul and Augustine Church. Twenty-one years later, the church returned to the name St. Augustine's.

Erected by Cultural Tourism DC.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the African American Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1858.

Location. 38° 55.096′ N, 77° 2.06′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in U Street Corridor. Marker is at the intersection of 15th Street Northwest and V Street Northwest on 15th Street Northwest. The marker is accessible to pedestrians at the main entrance

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to the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1425 V Street Northwest, Washington DC 20009, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Meridian Hill Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Paul Laurence Dunbar Apartments (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Northumberland Apartments (about 300 feet away); A Shared Neighborhood (about 500 feet away); Mary Ann Shadd Cary Residence (about 500 feet away); Mary Ann Shadd Cary House (about 600 feet away); Buchanan (about 600 feet away); A Prestige Address (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

More about this marker.
Caption:
St. Augustine's chapel at 15th and L Streets, NW.
St. Augustine Church.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This link is to a marker at the site of the original church.

Also see . . .
1. St. Augustine...“The Mother Church of Black Catholics in the Nation's Capital.”. “Saint Augustine Parish traces its heritage to 1858 and the efforts of a group of dedicated emancipated Black Catholics. Faced with a society that was not yet willing to put off the last vestiges of slavery

Wide view of Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, January 25, 2015

2. Wide view of Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church Marker

and a Church that, at best, tolerated the presence of Black people in its congregation, these men and women founded a Catholic school and chapel on 15th Street under the patronage of Blessed Martin de Porres. In what is perhaps a touch of historical irony, this school was operating four years before mandatory free public education of Black children became law in the Nation’s Capital. After operations were briefly interrupted by the Civil War, a new church was built and dedicated to Saint Augustine in 1876. From its beginning, Saint Augustine was the parish of Black Catholics in Washington, DC. A tradition of lay efforts and of determination flourished.” (Submitted on August 6, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)

2. St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, African American Heritage Trail. (Submitted on January 16, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Additional keywords. parochial schools

Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard E. Miller, August 4, 2008

3. Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church

Martin de Porres Chapel, 1864 image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Saint Augustine Church

4. Martin de Porres Chapel, 1864

The original Saint Augustine RC Church, 1876-1946 image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Saint Augustine Church

5. The original Saint Augustine RC Church, 1876-1946

Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 3, 2010

6. Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church

Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church interior and altar image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 24, 2016

7. Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church interior and altar

Stained glass from Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 24, 2016

8. Stained glass from Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church

You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
Augustine of Hippo

Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church pipe organ image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 24, 2016

9. Saint Augustine Roman Catholic Church pipe organ

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,473 times since then and 44 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2020, by Bruce Guthrie of Silver Spring, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on August 6, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 2. submitted on January 25, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 6, 2008, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 6. submitted on April 10, 2010, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 7, 8, 9. submitted on July 24, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.