Continuing Orchard Street Church’s Community Service

The Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL) is a civil rights organization that is housed in the historic Orchard Street Church. The 1882 church has had a long history of community engagement from abolitionist meetings to today’s use as home to the GBUL and the state chapter of the NAACP. The church is in need of urgent repairs in addition to system upgrades. The Greater Baltimore Urban League is looking to find a way to honor their history as they look at a long-term plan to restore and upgrade their headquarters.

Partners: Greater Baltimore Urban League

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The Greater Baltimore Urban League operates out of the historic Orchard Street Church.

The Problem

The Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL) is a civil rights organization located in the historic Orchard Street Church. The 1882 church has a long history of community engagement from hosting abolitionist meetings to its use today as home to the GBUL and the state chapter of the NAACP.

The Fix

The Orchard Street Church is in need of urgent repairs and system upgrades. Preservation Maryland will help the Greater Baltimore Urban League honor the historic structure while developing a long-term plan to upgrade its headquarters for their current important work.

Updates

March 2020

The 441st Session of the Maryland General Assembly came to an abrupt close on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. As Maryland and the rest of the nation grappled with the outbreak of COVID-19, leaders in Annapolis decided to adjourn the legislative session early – something only done once before 159 years ago, on the eve of the American Civil War. Before Session ended, Preservation Maryland successfully advocated for several Legislative Bond Initiatives, formerly known as bond bills, that impact a wide array of preservation projects around the state.

Preservation Maryland has been working closely with the Greater Baltimore Urban League, a civil rights organization, to restore their headquarters, the historic Orchard Street Church in Baltimore City, which has its own long history of community engagement including hosting abolitionist meetings. The Greater Baltimore Urban League will receive $300,000 to help rehabilitate the church.

MORE ADVOCACY NEWS

August 2020

The Greater Baltimore Urban League are stewards of the Old Orchard Street Church and have recently received critical capital funding from the Maryland Heritage Area Authority to repair one of the historic structure’s iconic windows.

LEARN MORE

RESOURCES

Orchard Street Church History
Greater Baltimore Urban League

Orchard Street Church
Explore Baltimore

1975
Orchard Street United Methodist Church
Maryland Historical Trust Easement

NEWS

03/19/2019
Baltimore lawmakers request $25M in state bond money for city projects
Baltimore Business Journal

10/30/2015
Greater Baltimore Urban League to open new entrepreneurial center to aid small businesses
The Baltimore Sun

02/28/1993
Orchard Street Church tells a powerful story Black congregants focus of museum
The Baltimore Sun

Save History Today

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You can help. Six-to-Fix rallies the Maryland preservation community around discrete and necessary tasks and projects to advance each project. Folks with all skills and interests are encouraged to sign-up. You will receive periodic announcements with opportunities to participate, and we hope you can join us to save history together.

New Projects Continuing Orchard Street Church’s Community Service