The historically African-American parish, the first Colored Episcopal Mission south of the Mason–Dixon line, was first organized and Rev.

William Levington held its first service in an "Upper Room" at Park Avenue and Marion Street on June 23, 1824.

Donald Wilson served as rector from 1963 until his retirement in 1986, and oversaw significant changes in the neighborhood surrounding the parish.

In 1993, lightning struck the church and destroyed the rose window, among other significant damage, but Bishop Charles L. Longest[4] reconsecrated the building on June 11, 1995.

The congregation's next rector, Michael Bruce Curry (1988-2000), resigned to become Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.

Curry was elected by the House of Bishops, meeting in St. Mark's Cathedral, on the first ballot with 121 of 174 votes cast.

Curry was installed as presiding bishop and primate on November 1, 2015, All Saints' Day, during a Eucharist at Washington National Cathedral.

In 2008, the parish hosted the diocesan convention which elected Eugene Sutton as the first African American to become Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland.