Building Atop the Burying Ground
When leaders of First Presbyterian Church decided to build an new church atop their 18th-century burying ground, they hoped to serve Baltimore’s growing west end and protect their burial place from being diverted to other uses.
Construction began in July 1851 and Westminster Presbyterian Church was consecrated a year later. The congregation grew steadily, adding a parish hall (far left) by the late 1850’s. By the early 1900’s the neighborhood was heavily commercial and industrial, its residents a blend of African Americans, Italians, Lithuanians and Russan Jews. The church closed for nearly a decade but reopened in 1925 under the direction of the energetic Rev. Bruce McDonald.
Westminster Presbyterian Church celebrated its last service in 1977. Acquired by Westminster Preservation Trust, a non-profit created by the University of Maryland School of Law, the property was rehabilitated and rededicated in 1983 as Westminster Hall & Burying Ground.
Marker is at the intersection of West Fayette Street and Greene Street, on the left when traveling west on West Fayette Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
