About Our Church

History of
Metropolitan United Methodist Church

1121 W. Lanvale Street • Baltimore, MD 21217

The history of Metropolitan United Methodist Church began almost two centuries ago. Its history is replete with examples of courageous men and women who sought to build a church with a secure future that addressed the needs of the congregants and the community at large. The significant events in the evolution of the church are presented briefly below. The present Metropolitan United Methodist Church had its early beginnings in slavery days under the leadership of Truman Pratt, a former slave. He gathered a number of persons together and began holding regular prayer meetings about 1825 in Scrabble Town in Sout Baltimore. Other unrelated religious groups also were worshipping independently throughout the community at that time. Truman Pratt and his followers soon moved to Union Street and later to Biddle Street near Ross (now Druid Hill).

About 1832 Rev. Jacob Gruber of the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church came as an instructor and counselor to the group. Rev. Gruber moved the meeting place to Chestnut Alley (now Bradley Street) near, Pine Street. In Chestnut Alley, the home of Mrs. Caroline Bradley was used for Sunday school. Mrs. Bradley was assisted in teaching by Sarah and Louis Osborne. Upon the request of Mrs. Truman Pratt, her employer (a Mr. Moore) provided the site for a church building. That church, located at Orchard Street and Elder Alley, was called Orchard Street Church. In 1837, a small brick church was erected and dedicated by the Rev. Mr. Gruber. In 1850, an additional one-story building had to be constructed but soon that was converted into two stories. In 1864, Orchard Street Church was brought into the Washington Conference. Rev. Richard Bell was the first of 25 appointed pastors. During the pastorate of Rev. Henry A. Carroll (1869-1871) the church was renamed Metropolitan.

In 1927, it was announced that Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Carrollton Avenue and Lanvale Street, was planning to move and would soon abandon its beautiful gothic edifice. With the cooperation and sympathetic understanding of the pastors and boards of both churches, the former sites of Grace Church and its parsonage were transferred to Metropolitan Church for the sum of $110,000. The Metropolitan congregation occupied its present building in March 1928, under the pastorate of Rev. Ernest S. Williams. Rev. Williams was followed by Rev. C.Y. Trigg, Rev. Fairfax F. King, Rev. Ely L. Lofton, Rev. Kelly L. Jackson, Rev. Frank L. Williams, Rev. Ernest P. Clark, Rev. Dr. Irvin C. Lockman, Rev. Dr. Louis Shockley, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah G. Williams, Rev. Dr. Michelle Holmes Chaney, Rev. Eric W. King, Sr., Rev. Dr. Howard R. Hinson and the current pastor, Rev. Rodney Hudson. Several Methodist churches are outgrowths of Metropolitan Church: Ames Memorial, Whatcoat, and Orchard Street.

512 Orchard Street • Baltimore MD 21201

Our Pastor

Pastor Rodney Hudson

Pastor Rodney Hudson began his pastoral ministry in September, 1974. He is pastor of Metropolitan United Methodist Church (MUMC). MUMC is one of 2 churches under the umbrella of Resurrection West Cooperative Parrish (AMES Memorial UMC and MUMC) serving the Sandtown and Harlem Park communities in Baltimore, Maryland. He also has and continues to serve as music director in faith communities.

He was honorably discharged from the United States Army where he served from 1991 to 1998 as an airborne paratrooper earning awards and medals for his meritorious service. Following his military service, he taught in public schools in Prince George’s County and Baltimore City.

Pastor Hudson is a community organizer and activist serving on the board of the Ames Shalom Community Inc. which has a mission of improving the lives of the residents of the Sandtown Community.

His work with Ames Shalom has been one of the most rewarding opportunities of his life.

Pastor Hudson is the father of four children - Christopher, Daniel, David and Ayonia Hudson. The Hudson family is committed to serving God in any way that God leads . Their family motto for ministry can be found in the words written by Charles Wesley:

“A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky. To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill: O may it all my powers engage To do my Master’s will.”