About St. Luke's

St. Luke's was formed by the 1946 merger of three Georgetown churches: Aldersgate, Mount Tabor and Congress Street, each with a history that dates back before 1900.

The church's location, at the corner of Calvert St. and Wisconsin Ave. N.W., places it in the heart of Washington's Glover Park community; nearby are two major traffic corridors, a large playground, shops and the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory. In 2003 the church reached an agreement to sell a neighboring lot bordering Wisconsin Ave.

The present church was built in the early 50's, which was a time of church growth across the country. The church was built to house a large congregation. Instead, it experienced a steady diminishing of congregational size. Several factors have contributed to the decline in size, including the population changes of the neighborhood and the general cultural shift away from church involvement. In recent years, however, the congregation's membership and participation has increased as younger residents have moved into the community.

St. Luke's has a vibrant worship ministry that includes its choir, Sunday School and nursery. Beyond Sunday is a collection of spiritual activities during the week, mostly during evenings. St. Luke's also maintains an active social outreach program that involves members of the Glover Park community and other D.C.-area institutions. The church houses a shelter for homeless men in its basement, and coordinates a monthly meal for the residents. In partnership with the shelter and other agencies, St. Luke's has begun a program to teach food preparation skills to the homeless.

The church also hosts community events, including its annual Jazz in the Garden series of free outdoor summertime concerts. Local artists' work is on display in the Narthex Art Gallery.

St. Luke's prides itself on its diverse congregation, which includes long-time D.C. area residents, students and young adults from around the world and families. Through music, worship and outreach, St. Luke's is building a vibrant community.