Green Valley in Arlington in Arlington County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Our Lady Queen of Peace
Green Valley
The history of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church located at 2700 19th Street South is written in the dedication, loyalty, hard work and prayers of countless people who gave life to a dream. It represents the culmination of the courageous efforts of a small group of Black Catholics who took Jesus at his word and laid the foundation for a worshipping community that welcomes all as sisters and brothers, and as members of the great family of God.
In 1945, Bishop Peter Ireton granted 16 Black Catholics the opportunity to establish Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church (OLQP) in Arlington County for dignified worship. These pioneers laid the foundation for a welcoming worshipping community. Bishop Ireton invited The Holy Ghost Fathers, known today as the Spiritans to work with the small group of Black Catholics to find the land and build a church. They celebrated the first Mass on Pentecost Sunday May 25, 1945.
On June 15, 1947, OLQP Church was dedicated, marking the next stage of its history. OLQP's journey has been marked by a commitment to social justice, guided by Matthew 25:35. In the 1960s, amidst racial
this page online
The 1970s saw an influx of Central and South American parishioners, leading to Spanish Mass since 1972. All during the 1980s and 1990s, the Parish continued its tradition of social justice and community service. Ministries addressing local and international issues flourishing. The Queen of Peace Refugees Office Ministry and the Haiti Ministry exemplify OLQP's dedication to aiding those facing social problems and building relationships abroad.
The Parish responded to the COVID pandemic by reaching out to the food insecure, and tripled the food pantry output to over 750 families weekly during the same period focusing on helping settle refugees and displaced persons. OLQP's history continues as a 21st-century church community with over 2500 richly diverse families. Sixteen dreamers, through determination and faith, laid the foundation for OLQP to grow into a reality beyond what they could have imagined. This community, an amazing tapestry of races and
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 25, 2026
2. Our Lady Queen of Peace with the marker along the sidewalk
16 Black Catholic Founding Members
Joseph Bowman Clarence & Selena Brown Alice Butler Lawrence & Jessie Butler Irma Carter Hattie Ellis Thaddenia West Mary Fernanders Edward Marshall Grace McGwinn Edward & Alice Moorman Constance Spencer Sophia Terry
Erected 2025 by Green Valley Civic Association; Arlington County, Virginia.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Hispanic Americans • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is May 25, 1945.
Location. 38° 51.26′ N, 77° 4.988′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Virginia, in Arlington County. It is in Green Valley. It is on 19th Street South east of South Edgewood Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2700 19th St S, Arlington VA 22206, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dr. Roland Herman Bruner (approx. Ό mile away); Mt. Zion Baptist Church (approx. Ό mile away); Friendly Cab Stand (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Berry (approx. 0.3 miles away); Macedonia Baptist Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Richardson (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Fort (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Artillery (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Arlington.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
