Baltimore's Most Interesting Churches

Baltimore has many, many churches. There seems to be one on every corner. Churches have become havens for those in need – spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. No matter what the reason or the denomination, people seem to be looking for that point of spirituality to feel a connection to a higher being. This article contains just a sampling of interesting churches, across denominations, available to serve the communities in the Baltimore area.

Ark Church
1263 E. North Ave.
Baltimore, Md. 21201
(410) 539-1591
www.arkchurch.com

The small church with the big mission is creating committed Christians and is located in Northeast Baltimore City. The church was originally established in 1935 by the late Reverend Matthew Marcus Sr. and was known as Little Ark Missionary Baptist Church. In addition to providing Biblically-sound principles for life, the church offers various services to the community in which it is situated. Those services include a food pantry and a clothes closet. Ark Church also has the following ministries to reach people in all walks of life: culinary, dance, media, music, silver and gold, singles and prison. Ark Church holds a daily prayer call at 6:45 each morning to provide hope to those in need. In addition, the church has recently expanded to Harford County, MD where it offers a one-hour Saturday service, beginning at 5 p.m. The pastor of Ark Church since 1987 is J.L. Carter.

Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church
1316 Park Ave.
Baltimore, Md. 21217
(410) 523-1542
www.browndowntown.orgLocated in Central West Baltimore, this church seeks to unite the communities of Bolton Hill, Druid Heights, Upton, Sandtown and Madison Park. In addition, there is a meditative prayer group that meets on the first and third Sundays of the month. According to the website, "Worship is the main act of the Christian community of faith. Every Sunday we gather to encounter God. We bring our voices, our music, the preacher's interpretive reflection on a Bible passage, our prayers of thanksgiving, our prayers of request, our hopes, our dreams, our pain and sometimes even our protest. But we always join together with the expectation that God will meet us in worship." For the past nine years, the senior pastor of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church has been Andrew Foster Connors.

First Apostolic Faith Church International
27 S. Caroline St.
Baltimore, Md. 21231
(410) 327-1181
www.home.comcast.net/~kinglife1

According to Kimberly Showell, First Apostolic Faith Church International is celebrating 97 years of ministry and is one of the oldest Apostolic churches in the country with continuous ministry. The church's ministries include an outreach that goes out every week as well as food distribution and clothes closet, in which it services about 100-150 families each month. There are two annual harvests – the Spring Community Fair and Harvestfest in October, the last of which fed 1,500 people. There is a Children, Youth and Young Adult ministry which services approximately 200 young people. The minister of First Apostolic Faith Church International is Apostle Cornelius Showell, who is also the presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the International Bibleway Churches.

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Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation
4 E. University Parkway
Baltimore, Md. 21218
(410) 467-3750
www.incarnationbaltimore.orgWhether you enjoy quiet and meditative or inspiring church services, this church may be what you seek. The church's mission is "to love, know, and serve God as a community that fosters spiritual growth." Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation, along with its partners, offers outreach ministries to help make Baltimore healthier and safer for children and youth. The church's founding Bishop in the late 1800s, William Paret, asked the church funders to not build a grand cathedral like those in New York and Washington, DC, but rather to build a modest building in the heart of the poor area of the city. "One half of the money should be used for buildings, and one half as an endowment for the support of the work," said Paret.

Lovely Lane United Methodist Church
2200 Saint Paul St.
Baltimore, Md. 21218
(410) 889-1512
www.lovelylane.net/homeLovely Lane has been around since 1884. The church prides itself upon building a strong foundation for its congregants as they serve the community. Furthermore, the church demonstrates God's love through its various ministries including Manna House (a feeding and advocacy program for the homeless and poor), education (tutoring and mentoring), fellowship, the Prayer Vine and Margaret Brent School. The pastor of Lovely Lane United Methodist Church is Rev. Nancy Nedwell.

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