ARLINGTON, Va. — Macedonia Baptist Church traces its origins to 1908, when residents of Arlington's Green Valley community gathered for prayer meetings in the home of Bonder and Amanda Johnson. From those modest beginnings, the congregation grew into the first African American church established by the Nauck (now Green Valley) community itself.
After constructing an early chapel beside the Johnson home, the congregation acquired Peyton Hall near Nauck Station before formally organizing as Macedonia Baptist Church in 1911. Under its first pastor, the Rev. John Gilliam, the church quickly became a center of worship and community life, with its first baptisms taking place in Four Mile Run in 1912.
As Green Valley expanded, so did the church. A new sanctuary was completed in 1927, and the cornerstone for the present church was laid in 1971. During the pastorate of Dr. Leonard L. Hamlin Sr., Macedonia broadened its mission beyond the pulpit, establishing the Bonder and Amanda Johnson Community Development Corporation in 1999, developing affordable housing through The Macedonian, and expanding community services with a family life center.
On November 29, 2003, Arlington County dedicated a historical marker recognizing Macedonia Baptist Church's enduring contributions to Green Valley. More than a century after its founding, the congregation continues to serve as both a spiritual home and a cornerstone of one of Arlington's oldest African American communities.
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