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Southern: Attachment 4

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and several other preservation organizations support designating the Silver Spring Baptist Church Property to the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The property includes a unique 1956 Modernist sanctuary designed by architect Ronald S. Senseman and a 1925-1931 Colonial Revival parsonage and sanctuary designed in part by architect Dr. George Earnest Merrill. As a whole, the property provides a living timeline of the architectural and social history of the Baptist Church in Silver Spring. The National Trust urges designation and preservation of the property as an authentic and irreplaceable historic treasure.

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62 views18 pages

Southern: Attachment 4

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and several other preservation organizations support designating the Silver Spring Baptist Church Property to the Montgomery County Master Plan for Historic Preservation. The property includes a unique 1956 Modernist sanctuary designed by architect Ronald S. Senseman and a 1925-1931 Colonial Revival parsonage and sanctuary designed in part by architect Dr. George Earnest Merrill. As a whole, the property provides a living timeline of the architectural and social history of the Baptist Church in Silver Spring. The National Trust urges designation and preservation of the property as an authentic and irreplaceable historic treasure.

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March 2, 2011

Scott Whipple, Supervisor


Clare Lise Kelly, Research & Designation Coordinator
Historic Preservation Section
Montgomery County Planning Department
Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
Southern
FIELD OFFICE
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Re: Inventory No. M: 36-61

Dear Mr. Whipple and Ms. Kelly:

The National Trust for Historic Preservation joins with the Silver Spring Historical Society,
Preservation Maryland, Montgomery Preservation Inc., Modern Movement in Maryland, the
Art Deco Society, Historic Takoma, and others in supporting the designation of the Silver
Spring Baptist Church Property to the Montgomery County Master Plan and the
Locational Atlas of Historic Sites.

A prominent landmark on the corner of Wayne Avenue and Fenton Street, the Silver
Spring Baptist Church is the only mid-twentieth century Modernist church in Silver
Spring's Central Business District, and one of the very first in Montgomery County. With
its distinguished architectural history and unique design, which creatively incorporates Art
Deco elements, this significant historic site should be designated and preserved.

The Church Property includes a unique 1956 sanctuary designed by master architect,
teacher, writer, and Silver Spring resident, Ronald S. Senseman, FAIA, and a 1925-1931
Colonial Revival parsonage and sanctuary designed in part by nationally known architect
Dr. George Earnest Merrill. As a whole, the Property provides a living timeline of the
architectural and social history of the Baptist Church in Silver Spring, as the town grew
and flourished.

The tangible remnants of Silver Spring’s Colonial Revival, Art Deco, and Modernist history
play an important role in establishing the town’s historic character. The Silver Spring
Baptist Church Property features all of these elements, making it a critical piece of Silver
Spring’s architectural legacy.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation urges the Maryland National Capital Park &
Planning Commission to recommend designation and preservation of the Silver Spring
Baptist Church Property, an authentic and irreplaceable historic treasure.

Sincerely,

Nell Ziehl
Program Officer

1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036


P 202.588.6000 F 202.588.6223 E [email protected] www.PreservationNation.org
ATTACHMENT 4
Historic Designation of Silver Spring Baptist Church 
Testimony of Mary Reardon 
Public Hearing: Historic Preservation Commission, March 23, 2011 
 
My name is Mary Reardon. I’ve been involved in preservation advocacy in Silver Spring for over 20 years. 
I’m involved in the effort to preserve the Baptist Church.  
 
I agree with the staff’s recommendation to add the Silver Spring Baptist Church property to the Master 
Plan for Historic Preservation and to add it to the Locational Atlas as an interim measure. I also agree 
that the environmental setting not include the 1950 interim sanctuary.  And I want to underscore that 
preservationists accept that the outcome will be partial preservation. We acknowledge the  
development plan in the wings, and we hope to work with the developer and with HPC staff in arriving 
at a solution that won’t obliterate the church.  
 
What are the key elements that should be preserved? Definitely, as staff indicates, the Wayne Avenue 
façade of the 1956 sanctuary and the bell tower. I would want to include the walls of the vestibule 
behind the Wayne Avenue façade – this could serve as an entrance to new development behind it and 
would maintain a symmetry with the steeple side of the building. The 1926 brick parsonage (not the 
1931 addition behind it) is the earliest remaining religious structure in the Silver Spring CBD and is a key 
component of our history. Saving these elements would still allow construction of retail along nearly all 
of the Fenton frontage on the property. 
 
Saving pieces of the building, like the windows, is not preservation. It’s simply commemoration. But the 
development firm, Lakritz Adler, is experienced in creatively and masterfully restoring and repurposing 
historic buildings.   
 
Preservationists have demonstrated that they are open to compromise. The Canada Dry bottling plant is 
a prominent example. The plant sat on a large and valuable piece of land near the Silver Spring metro 
station. We were agreeable to preserving a portion of the building that incorporated the most 
architecturally significant elements, allowing most of the setting to be redeveloped. As with the Baptist 
Church, HPC staff recommended Master Plan designation with language that anticipated reduction of 
the environmental setting.  We reached a workable solution with the developer and preserved the main 
view of this historic resource. 
 
The report of the owner’s consultant, David Rotenstein, overwhelms with facts. Some are interesting, 
but facts don’t necessarily add up to a convincing case. I’ll just touch on a few of his points.  
 
Mr. Rotenstein argues that the Baptist Church complex won’t fit in with new and planned development 
at the Fenton‐Wayne crossroads. He’s arguing essentially that if the old doesn’t fit the new, then the old 
should be destroyed. But the opposite should be the case in community planning. It should be 
incumbent on new development to respect the fabric of a community. Once the church is gone, this 
corner would lose all trace of historic Silver Spring. 
 
Mr. Rotenstein uses photos with views manipulated to deny that the church is a prominent feature on 
the landscape. My experience in walking and driving near the church says otherwise. Here’s a view west 
along Fenton toward Wayne.  And if you stand at Sligo Avenue looking north on Fenton, the 1956 church 
with its tall steeple stands prominently at the crest of a hill. The church provides a village feel to what 
was supposed to be “Fenton Village,” the buffer between downtown Silver Spring and the 
neighborhoods. I’m afraid we’re losing a lot of the “village” in “Fenton Village”.  
 
The Parsonage, it’s true, has been altered. But it was a long time ago – in 1931. Today, except for the 
paint, it’s little changed since that time. The old Silver Spring Fire Station was also altered long ago, but 
it was placed on the Locational Atlas several years ago and has since enjoyed a rebirth as a firehouse‐
themed restaurant. 
 
I certainly don’t deny that the Silver Spring Baptist Church as an institution has done good work over the 
years, and I respect its mission. But I believe that partial preservation need not preclude the changes 
needed for the church to continue its mission. Churches and their activities become part of the history 
of a community, whether or not you’re a member of the congregation. In a sense churches belong to the 
community, contributing to its physical and historical fabric ‐‐ churches where generations of residents  
have walked as well as worshipped.   
 
 

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