In the spring of 1881 sixty-three former members of Union Bethel Methodist Church met for worship, according to their own beliefs, in the home of Mrs. Hannah Davis, 1608 L Street, N.W. Three weeks later, on June 7, they assembled in Shiloh Hall, L Street near 17th, and adopted a committee report for formal organization as a church. The First Congregational Methodist Church of Washington, D.C. was chosen as a temporary name and William T. Peele, a local preacher and class leader, was selected pastor. On October 5, 1881, the church name was changed to Plymouth Congregational Church. With financial help from Howard University, the membership celebrated the laying of the cornerstone in the same year. The dedication of the new Plymouth Church building at 17th and P Streets, N.W. was held on Sunday, April 20, 1887.

Eight months after Rev. Peele's ministry ended in 1888, Rev. Sterling Brown of Cleveland, Ohio began his tenure. He strengthened the church in the tenets of Congregationalism and in 1892 he had a new church manual published. Rev. A. C. Garner came to Plymouth in 1897. During his tenure he sought to eliminate the church's indebtedness to the American Missionary Association. On June 1, 1921, Rev. Garner resigned to accept the pastorate of Grace Congregational Church in New York City. In September of the same year, Rev. J. C. Olden and his family came to Plymouth where he made advancement in music and missions. He was succeeded in 1930 by Rev. Herbert King a theologian, counselor and youth leader. In 1933, Rev. King resigned to resume study at Oberlin College. Plymouth launched a new program of Christian education with the tenure of Rev. Arthur D. Gray in 1934. He projected Plymouth into the civic life of the community and became moderator of the Middle Atlantic Conference.

In 1947, the Rev. L. Maynard Catchings began a six-year expansion effort. In 1953, when Jefferson P. Rodgers came, he renewed the emphasis on spiritual and cultural enrichment. After four years, he was succeeded by Rev. Theodore Ledbetter, who was installed as the tenth Minister of Plymouth on October 19, 1958. Rev. Ledbetter inaugurated another period of expansion, including the construction of a new church building. Final services were held at the 17th and P Streets site on October 8, 1961. On Monday, October 9th, the church moved to its present location at 5301 North Capitol Street, N.E. In 1980, Rev. Ledbetter retired. Dr. Lawrence N. Jones, Dean of the Howard University, School of Divinity, served two years. This was a period of preaching and spiritual enrichment and social outreach. Rev. John S. Fortt followed Dean Jones in 1984 with a vision of further expansion of the church in the community.

Reverend Rubin Tendai became a respected and beloved Interim Minister from 1990 to 1992. Reverend Grayland Scott Ellis-Hagler, the current senior minister, came in October 1992. With him the church has taken on a new atmosphere with increased membership, attention to local, community and international interests and renewed participation of the younger members of the church.

Submitted by Ophelia T. Pinkard, Church Archivist