Former Ministers

Rev. John H. Daily, First Minister: 1891 - 1900

Rev. Daily served the Church from 1891 to February, 1900 - nine years of a very successful ministry. The membership grew in size and in fellowship. There seemed to have been a promise of prosperity.

After three encouraging years in Nash Hall, the Church felt prepared to climb another step. A lot was purchased at 628 "M" Street, NW, just blocks from Nash Hall. It was on this site that Peoples Church erected its first Church building in 1894. The cost of the land and the building was $30,000.

Rev. R.T. Nixon, Second Minister: 1900 - 1902

Rev. Louis B. Moore, Third Minister: 1902 - 1912

Rev. Moore was appointed Minister of Peoples Church while also fulfilling his full time responsibility as Dean of Teachers' College at Howard University. Almost from the moment of his installation, a calm began to prevail.

His skills in Church organization and financial management helped to make the precarious situation of the impending mortgage and interest payments surmountable. In less than a year, the interest payments were cleared, the principle reduced and arrangements made with the Congregational Church Building Society to refinance the first mortgage without interest.

Rev. Moore restored to the people a vision of the future. He made Peoples Church self-supporting. It was no longer a "Mission Church."

He maintained the Deanship of Teachers' College at Howard University throughout his pastorate. His responsibilities at the University became so great that he resigned from the Pastorate in 1912, after having served ten years. The membership looked back with pride over the distance they had climbed under the able leadership of Rev. Moore. Rev.

Arthur G.C. Randall, Fourth Minister: 1912 - 1914

Rev. J. Francis Gregory, Fifth Minister: 1914 - 1917

In 1914, Rev. J. Francis Gregory, a member of the Howard University faculty was called. Under his adroit leadership, the Church was strengthened. It moved upward again.

Rev. Gregory pastored another rough period of Financial security and cooperative effort. He introduced a method whereby funds for the support of the Church were readily raised. He divided the membership into twelve teams, one team reporting each month. This brought about excellent results and was long a practice of the Church. Rev. Gregory resigned in 1917, for service in World War I. His concern was with the morale of the troops.

Arthur Fletcher Elmes, Sixth Minister: 1926 - 1963

In 1926, Rev. Arthur Fletcher Elmes responded to the call to assume leadership of Peoples as its 6th Minister. He found the church financially prosperous with its membership working together effectively and well. From the beginning, the new minister had the love and respect of his congregation. The contagion of his warm friendliness inspired by his sincere concern for people, spread among the congregation and into the community. Peoples soon began to be spoken of as "The Friendliest Church in the City." Drawn by the spiritual substance and the eloquence of his pulpit messages, many visiting worshippers became members.

Rev. Grady E. Poulard, Seventh Minister: 1964 - 1967

The Era of Transition 1964 through 1967, stands out as another difficult period in the life of Peoples Church. Moving together with divine guidance and outstandingly strong lay leadership, Peoples stood the test of this time of adjustment.

A pastoral committee of twenty-one members selected from a cross-section of the church's membership was established. Its awesome task to find a leader for the church was pursued prayerfully and diligently. On July 23, 1964, the congregation in session voted to accept the committee's recommendation that Rev. Poulard be called as the Minister of Peoples Church.

Pursuing the dream of Rev. Elmes, he gave impetus to the Building Program with special emphasis on planning for the Educational Building. He stimulated activity in the over-all program of the Church and by increasing the membership. The image of Peoples as a Church with a functional program, responsive to the needs of its members and of the community continued. Included were such program projects as:

The Leadership Training Council
The Neighborhood Plan
Youth Council
Full-time Church Office
Girl and Boy Scout Programs

Rev. A. Knighton Stanley, Eighth Minister: 1968 - Present