In the spring of 1939, the Holy Spirit inspired two men, Tom Atchison and Rev. Cleveland Fuller, to organize a church. They discussed this idea with ten others, all of whom were members of New Bethany Baptist Church.

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After many discussions and planning, the twelve of them met on May 21, 1939, in the basement of a home located at 227 Q Street, NW, Washington, DC. In attendance were Rev. Shelton C. Lee, Annie L. Lee, Tom Atchison, Ruby (Atchison) Thompson, Cleveland Fuller, Eva Mae (Fuller) Rogie, George McAllister, Helen McAllister, Jerry James, Ruby W. James, William Harrison and Alma Harrison. With Rev. Lee serving as moderator, the following were elected to serve: Rev. Lee as Pastor, Deacon Fuller as Chairman of a one-man Deacon Board, William Harrison as Church Clerk, Tom Atchison as Treasurer, George McAllister, Jerry James and Tom Atchison as Trustees and Ruby James as Sunday School Superintendent. With these seven elected officers and the other five members involved, the Mentrotone Baptist Mission came into existence. The name Mentrotone was chosen from the name of a quartet in which Rev. Lee and Bro. Harrison sang.

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On the third Sunday in September, the 17th, 1939, a council of churches, including Mt. Calvary, Sharon and New Hope Baptist Churches, were called to assist in the ordination of Brothers William Harrison, Jerry James, George McAllister and Tom Atchison into the service of Deacons. This increased the Deacon Board from one to five. A choir was organized with Deacon McAllister as President and the Usher Board was organized with Deacon James as President. Sister Alma Harrison was the first Mother of the Church.

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In less than a year, the membership had grown to sixty and the basement quarters became too small. By the second Sunday in May 1940, we were able to obtain a larger and more convenient place to worship at 61 O Street, NW, DC. It was here that we received our first candidate for baptism, Brother E. Epps. He was baptized by Rev. Lee and Deacon Fuller at Second Baptist Church, under the pastorate of the late Dr. J.L.S. Holloman. Another first, for this newly organized Church was the ordination of Deacon Fuller as a Gospel Minister.

 

On September 14, 1940, land was purchased at 5211 B Street, SE, DC, and a frame building was erected. We moved to the new location in the summer of 1941. The membership continued to increase and various clubs and auxiliaries were organized. On September 22, 1943, a council was called to formally recognize the Mission and set it up as an organized Baptist Church. The Church, Missionary Society and Sunday School were accepted into the Mt. Bethel Baptist Association. In 1945, the frame building was torn down and a brick building was erected in its place. This building was erected by the hard work of members of the Church, who were master carpenters, plumbers and brick layers. Working alongside these members were Rev. Shelton C. Lee, Brother Simmie Williams and Deacon St. George Hicks. The church was incorporated on September 14, 1955. In 1957, the cornerstone of the current building was laid, and we moved in with a Dedicatory Service on the third Sunday in May 1959, which was the 20th Anniversary of the Church and Pastor Lee.

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Across this nation, the Rev. Shelton "South Carolina" Lee, as he was fondly called, was known as one of the most powerful and anointed preachers of his time. In June 1979, Rev. Lee resigned as Pastor and returned to his native home in Aiken, South Carolina, where he died less than a year later. The Rev. David Robinson served faithfully as interim Pastor until our new Pastor was called.

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In January 1981, another dynamic preacher, Rev. Amaziah C. Harper, formerly of the East Friendship Baptist Church, was called as our new Pastor. He was officially installed on August 9, 1981. Under the pastorate of Rev. Harper, two of the sons of this Church preached their trial sermons, Rev. Leroy T. Lee of April 18, 1983 and Rev. Edward A. Smith on February 10, 1985. Both were ordained as Gospel Ministers on October 6, 1990.

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In 1984, Sisters Cleo West and Arnita West were the first women elected to the Trustee Board.

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Under the leadership of Pastor Harper, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on July 18, 1983, for a new Fellowship Hall with classrooms, a conference room and baptismal. It was dedicated on the third Sunday in May 1984, as we celebrated our 45th Church Anniversary and the 3rd Anniversary of Pastor Harper. The old Church building was razed and the two adjacent lots were purchased for our existing parking lot constructed in 1986. In September of 1989, we began renovation of the Church Sanctuary. By God's grace, the Sanctuary was rededicated on Sunday, March 25, 1990.

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On November 8, 1993, Minister Florine V. (Gore) Ancrum preached her trial sermon, becoming the first woman to receive her license to preach the gospel from this Church. Other Ministers have joined us over the years and served faithfully until God called them to rest. Namely, Rev. Benning, Rev. Americus Longs and Rev. Jerry West.

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There have been five churches organized by Ministers from this Church: Morris Hill (Rev. Cleveland Fuller), Buffalo Baptist (Rev. Johnnie B. Carr), True Baptist (Rev. James A. Fenwick), Jordan Baptist (Rev. William Smith), Apostle Edward A. Smith (Prepared Table Ministries for Christ). In May 1999, Rev. Leroy Lee was called as Pastor of Buffalo Baptist Church.

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During the years this Church has been in existence, we have had only two Pastors, Rev. Shelton C. Lee and currently Rev. Amaziah C. Harper. The following persons have served as Chairman of the Deacon Ministry: Cleveland Fuller, James Carr, St. George Hicks, John Mitchell, William Harrison, Herbert Allen, Sr. and McCoy Ancrum.

 

Tommie S. Gore served faithfully as Church Treasurer from 1965 to 1991. Upon his resignation, Trustee Joyce C. Adams was elected as Church Treasurer. She served diligently until God called her for a peaceful rest on December 25, 2012.

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There have been four Church Clerks, Deacon William Harrison, Sister Mary Glover, Deaconess Ruby W. James, who served faithfully for 50 years, retiring as Church Clerk Emeritus on December 3, 1993, and Sister Janice Perry, who served from January 2, 1994, until her passing in November 2020. In 1993, all Boards Clubs and Auxiliaries of the Church became Ministries to reflect their services as ministering to others through Jesus Christ.

 

The Trustee Ministry has been blessed to have faithful workers in the vineyard. Lead by Trustee Ministry Chairmen Henry C. Hall, James Butcher, Richard Pitts, Sr., Willie York and current Trustee Chairman Keenan D. Meaders.

 

Our beloved Mother of the Church, Mother Virginia Johnson, has been a breath of light and beauty to this Church and Community for decades. She has more energy than most and seldom misses a worship service. This is amazing considering she celebrated her 102nd birthday on April 20, 2020. We thank God for her and her welcoming spirit.

 

In addition to Minister Ancrum, Minister George Morton was added to the Pulpit Staff in 2005. All are dedicated Preachers of the Gospel. Rev. Otis Tolbert, who joined our Church family in 1992, served faithfully until his passing in 2020.

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Over the years, Mentrotone Baptist Church has been able to minister to lost souls and magnify God and his holy word, only by the dedicated and tireless work of the many officers and members over our long history. There are so many, that all of the names cannot be recognized in this short history, but we thank God for them.

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During Pastor Amaziah C. Harper's 42 years at Mentrotone Baptist Church, through his ministry, hundreds of people have come to Christ by baptism, Christian experience, being restored to the membership and by letter. He is truly a child of the Most High King. We pray for strength as he leads Mentrotone into a new decade.

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We thank God for using the ministries of this Church for 81 years to allow thousands to Worship God, Win Lost Souls unto Christ, and to Revive Saved Souls. May God continue to favor this house as we move forward in His glory. God is doing a new thing in 2023 !