ather Charles J. White, who was then
pastor of St. Matthew's church in which the Negroes had always felt
free to worship. Early in 1863 he purchased a lot on 15th Street
between L and M and built there a two-story structure with the
assistance of colored members from the various churches of the city
and especially from those of St. Matthew's. Among those participating
in the launching of this new church were the following: Miss Mary
Harrison, Mr. Isaac Landic and wife, Mrs. Jane Smallwood, Mrs. Henry
Warren and family, Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Smith, the Misses Mary
and Sara Ann Smith, Mr. William T. Benjamin, Mr. Bazil Mullen, Mr.
John West, Miss Agnes Gray, Messrs. William H. Wheeler, Henry Jackson,
Henry Neal and family, James F. Jackson and family, Mrs. Frances
Madison, and the Misses Eliza Ann Cook, Mary T. Smith, Eliza Hall, and
Jane Teagle.

In the course of time there were so many accessions to the church that
more space was needed. In 1865, therefore, a frame building was added
at the time that the church was under the patronage of Martin de
Porrers, a colored lay brother of the order of St. Dominic, who had
labored in South America. Dr. White was still the pastor, with Martin
de Porrers officiating at most of the services. In the course of time
it was necessary to seek other assistants, who were supplied by the
Society of Jesus at Georgetown College in the person of Fathers Kelly
and Cleary.

After the Civil War Archbishop Spaulding, then in charge of the
diocese, saw the opportunity and the challenge of the church to meet
the many needs of the freedmen who without spiritual guidance might
morally retrograde. He therefore called for other workers to offer
their lives as a sacrifice to a noble cause. In Italy at this time
there was Father Barroti, who after having equipped himself for
missionary work prepared to carry the Gospel message to the Chinese.
In 1869, however, he was persuaded to go to the more inviting field of
the freedmen in the United States. After some further instruction in
English and other matters essential to the equipment for service among
these people, he took charge of this Negro congregation in 1867. He
immediately succeeded in securing the cooperation of the Negroes and
the respect of the community. He passed among them as a man of
Christian virtue and an apostle to the lowly. His following so rapidly
increased that it was soon necessary to add wooden buildings to the
original struc