In a rare fusion of history, faith, and creative vision, a long-forgotten church in Washington, D.C., is being given a bold and reverent second act.

The building, first erected in the 1800s as the home of a prominent Black congregation, is undergoing a transformation led by National Community Church (NCC) and Pastor Mark Batterson into a spiritual and cultural hub called Culture House, as CBN reports.

The rebirth of this once-abandoned sanctuary honors more than a century of legacy, blending ministry, the arts, and community service with a deep respect for the biblical foundation on which it was built.

A Chapel Steeped in Rich Black History

Originally constructed in 1886 under the direction of Robert Laws — a man once enslaved who, along with his wife Patsy, began holding church meetings in 1875 — the building served the spiritual needs of generations, surviving revivals in the 1920s and urban overhaul efforts in the 1950s.

Over the years, three different congregations made their home within the building's brick walls, all imprinted with the spirit of perseverance and devotion.

Yet despite that lineage, the church sat abandoned for nearly two decades until a recent restoration effort began to stir new life into the neglected structure.

Abandonment Ends With Vision-Driven Restoration

After a brief stint as an art venue starting in 2002, the space once again faded into obscurity — until NCC and Pastor Batterson saw past the peeling paint and empty pews and instead envisioned purpose.

Far from a vanity project, the Culture House initiative seeks more than simple restoration; it aims to steward the church’s legacy by integrating worship and the arts with a clear, faith-driven mission.

As Pastor Batterson said, “The history of the church is a relay race, and we take the baton from the last generation, we hand it to the next generation.”

A Merge of Sacred Tradition and Creative Expression

Now adorned with visual artworks from Benjamin Baugham, NCC’s Artist-in-Residence, the space is reclaiming its role as a platform — not just for worship but for bold displays of faith through art.

Baugham’s painting of Robert Laws is more than aesthetic. “When people interact with the painting, their mind immediately goes to a verse in the gospel,” he said. “And I think that embodies what I want to do with most of my artwork.”

His perspective offers a welcome change from today’s increasingly sterile, politically correct art world — his work is grounded in Scripture and bold enough to confront culture with both conviction and grace.

Built on Faith, Not Fame

This effort isn’t about individual accolades. As longtime community leader Donald Isaac pointed out, “Seldom do you see the pastor’s name being broadcast. They do it not for individual glory... but for the glory of God.”

Batterson himself echoed the sentiment, adding, “It’s not about the name over the church door. It’s about the name above all names.”

In that vein, Culture House is poised to serve not one congregation, but many — arts groups, ministries, and community partners will all have access to the revived space.

Restoration Anchored in Biblical Truth

The entire vision is rooted in Isaiah 58:12, a verse that speaks to rebuilding ancient places and restoring streets with life — a fitting blueprint for a church once seen as lost to the past.

“To be able to inherit, to honor that history, but also give it a new vision… It’s pretty special,” Pastor Batterson said, underscoring how revival isn't just spiritual — it's structural, literal, and cultural.

In a time when so much of our spiritual heritage is being erased or forgotten, watching a project that builds “on top of a solid foundation,” as Baugham put it, is a much-needed reminder of what a lasting legacy really means.

Faithful Stewardship Over Flashy Renovation

While politicians squabble and downtown declines, one church has anchored itself in enduring truth — and D.C. may just be better for it.

Culture House’s faithful restoration, guided by NCC, is not an indulgent rebrand or a gentrified reinvention, but a determined act of revival, grounded in humility and honor.

The time for revival, Batterson said, “is here and now.” And for once, that sounds like a rally cry we can all get behind.