Because of the dramatic growth of a large congregation that (( replaced a sharply declining one, a distinctive architectural landmark in downtown Baltimore -- the Gothic Revival church at Franklin and Cathedral streets -- soon will be for sale for the second time.
New Psalmist Baptist Church, which has worshiped in the 145-year-old Tudor-style building since 1978, plans to construct a much larger sanctuary complex on the nearly 20 acres it owns in Southwest Baltimore. The old Franklin Street building can accommodate about 1,000 worshipers.
At the old church yesterday, the Rev. Walter S. Thomas, New Psalmist's pastor, introduced members of the congregation to the man selected to design the new building, Columbia architect Bernard Madison.
Mr. Thomas said that the site is the former Uplands estate in the 4500 block of Old Frederick Road, and that the building will combine modern and traditional elements.
"You will definitely know it is a church," he said.
Architect's sketches are due in about a month, the pastor added.
Groundbreaking is planned for next fall, and Jan. 1, 1995, is the target for the move. A purchaser of the present church -- where the former Franklin Street Presbyterian congregation had worshiped for nearly 130 years -- would not be able to take it over until the move.
Mr. Thomas said there were "no negative reasons" for New Psalmist's decision to sell the historic Franklin Street building along with two other properties it owns in the 500 block of Cathedral Street.
Neither crime nor parking problems drove the congregation out of downtown, he said. In fact, he said, parking in the area has never been a problem for the church's large membership on Sunday mornings.
The sole reason for the move, the pastor said, is the rapid growth of the New Psalmist congregation. When it moved to Franklin Street from North and Druid Hill avenues on Jan. 1, 1978, it had 500 members. Now, it has an active membership of 3,000, he said. Members live in all parts of Baltimore and nearby counties and as far away as southern Pennsylvania and northern Virginia.
The decline in numbers and financial strength of the old Presbyterian congregation was almost as sharp. The original Franklin Street church and First Presbyterian Church at Madison Street and Park Avenue merged in 1973. The decision to put the Franklin Street property up for sale was made by the combined Presbyterian congregations in 1976.
