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Church History

From the the AMBC 110th Anniversary

The formation of the Alexander Memorial Baptist Church began on July 26, 1908, with a group of worshipers from the First Baptist Church of Georgetown. Led by Reverend W. Bishop Carroll the members first met at 1002 26th Street and later at the Odd Fellows Hall at 28th Street and Dumbarton Avenue. They named the church after the Reverend Sandy Alexander, the founder of First Baptist.


In 1909, the church purchased property located in the Georgetown Section (2709–2717 N Street) of Washington, DC and constructed a church building. The cornerstone was laid later that year. Rev. Carroll served as the minister until his resignation in 1914.


Reverend James L. Garfield served from 1914 until he resigned in 1917 to return to his evangelical ministry. Reverend Leroy Frazier served as Pastor until his death on Apri1 16, 1941. Reverend Charles S. Pryor, the Assistant Pastor served as the Acting Pastor from April 1941 until February 1942 after which he was elected by its membership to become the fourth pastor of Alexander Memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


During the pastorate of Rev. Pryor, the first mortgage (1909 – 1942) and the second mortgage (1942 – 1971) were burned leaving a debt free church. Rev. Pryor retired in 1972 after thirty years of service. In March 1973, Reverend James A. Godfrey was elected by the church membership as its fifth pastor. Rev. Godfrey served faithfully and the church prospered under his leadership until his retirement in 1987.

 

Reverend Lamar McClain was elected by its membership as the sixth pastor. Rev. McClain served as Pastor for nine years (1988 – 1997). In March 1999, Reverend Marvin W. Rodgers, Jr. became pastor and served for 4 years. During his tenure the church mortgage was burned again, leaving a debt free church.


Reverend Jesse W. Plater is the current Senior Pastor of the Alexander Memorial Baptist Church. Reverend Plater has served as Senior Pastor of the Alexander Memorial Baptist Church since December 2005. Reverend Plater was officially installed on March 5, 2006 as Senior Pastor of AMBC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Over the last ten years, AMBC has purchased a 15-passenger van, upgraded the sound system, replaced windows in the sanctuary with new stained glass windows, replaced wood entry doors with stained glass doors in the sanctuary, added a bathroom in the vestibule area, replaced vinyl tile with ceramic tile in the church vestibule, painted the exterior and interior of the church and fellowship hall, along with upgrades to some of the flooring in the fellowship hall on level one and two. The church is utilizing digital technology to record its worship services for reproduction in DVD format. It is utilizing social media as another means of reaching the Washington Metropolitan community via a new website (www.alexandermemorial.org).

 

AMBC implemented several ministries to provide services to various Washington DC communities, including; Outreach to the Homeless and Feeding the Hungry in Washington, DC; partnership with Francis Junior High school to provide assistance to families in need, and participation in the Share Food Program. The church adopted an orphanage in West Africa in 2010, and provided the children with clothing, books and other needed supplies throughout the year.


Since 2006, Alexander Memorial Baptist Church has hosted two dynamic Women’s Retreats and multiple Men’s and Women’s Prayer Breakfasts. In July 2008, the church led a parade down the streets of Georgetown in celebration of the church’s 100th year anniversary of service to the Lord. AMBC hosted a 2010 Family & Friends Relationship Conference and sponsored its first combined retreat for men and women in October 2012 with the theme “Be Intentional”. AMBC also hosted two dynamic Women Conferences in 2013 and 2014.

 

Pastor Plater was led by the Lord in June 2013 that it was time to relocate the church to a new location in Maryland. The church voted in August 2013 to sell the property and follow the vision that the Lord had given Pastor Plater. Our theme for 2014 was “Moving Forward with Purpose”. We held our last worship service at the Georgetown location on December 28, 2014.

 

The church worshipped at Francis Scott Key Elementary School, 2301 Scott Key Drive, District Heights, Maryland for 18 months until the Lord provided the blessing of a new edifice located at 10675 Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro, MD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The theme for 2016 was “Year of the Overflow”. On Sunday, July 3, 2016, AMBC worshipped for the first time in its new location at 10675 Crain Highway, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.

 

We are excited about what the Lord has in store for the Alexander Memorial Baptist Church.

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Alexander Memorial Baptist Church

"Encouraging, Equipping, and Empowering all generations to become disciples of Christ"

Rev. Jesse W. Plater, Senior Pastor
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