Foundry Church (1845 location)

The Foundry United Methodist Church is one of the most historically significant Methodist congregations in the nation’s capital, known not only for its long-standing ministry but also for its association with James K. Polk. During his presidency from 1845 to 1849, Polk regularly attended this church, making it an important landmark in both religious and political history.

The origins of the congregation date back to 1814, when a group of Methodists in Washington organized a society to serve the spiritual needs of a growing population. The church’s name comes from its early location near a government iron foundry, reflecting the simple and practical naming customs of the time. As the city expanded, the congregation grew in influence and became a prominent center of Methodist worship.

By the mid-nineteenth century, Foundry Methodist Church had developed a reputation for attracting influential members of society, including government officials. President James K. Polk, a committed Methodist, attended services there while living in the White House. His regular presence highlighted the important role that religious faith played in his personal life and underscored the close connection between church and public service in early American history.

The church building that Polk attended was not the present structure but an earlier meetinghouse, as the congregation relocated and rebuilt in later years. Nevertheless, the continuity of the congregation preserves that historic connection. Over time, Foundry United Methodist Church became known for its strong preaching, active membership, and engagement with the social issues of the day.

Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the church continued to evolve, embracing both its historic roots and the changing needs of its community. It has been active in a wide range of ministries, including education, outreach to the poor, and efforts toward social reform. In more recent years, it has also been recognized for its involvement in discussions of justice and inclusion, reflecting broader trends within Methodism.

The legacy of Foundry United Methodist Church lies in its enduring witness at the intersection of faith and public life. Its connection with President Polk remains a notable part of its story, symbolizing a time when national leaders were closely tied to local congregations. Today, the church continues to serve as a place of worship and community engagement in Washington, D.C., carrying forward a tradition that stretches back more than two centuries.

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In 1845 President James K. Polk attended the Foundry Church, located on this spot (it has since moved to the East).

“Attended the Methodist Church (called the Foundery Church) today, in company with my private secretary, J. Knox Walker. It was an inclement day, there being rain from an early hour in the morning, and Mrs. Polk and the ladies of my household did not attend church to-day. Mrs. Polk being a member of the Presbyterian Church, I generally attend that church with her, though my opinions and predilections are in favor of the Methodist Church. This was my birthday, being fifty years old. The text was from the Acts of the Apostles, chap. 17, verse 31: ‘Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained.’ It was communion day, and the sermon was solemn and forcible. It awakened the reflection that I had lived fifty years, and that before fifty years more would expire I would be sleeping with the generations which have gone before me. I thought of the vanity of this world’s honors, how little they would profit me half a century hence, and that it was time for me to be putting my house in order.”

Just four years later he would be sleeping with the generations before, and yet he would not put his house in order until the day before. Learn more about it at McKendree Methodist in Nashville, Tennessee – site of his funeral.

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Image Source/Credit:
• “James Polk.” American Battlefield Trust (www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/james-polk)
• Live Design, Inc. Foundry United Methodist Church (foundryumc.org/about/history)