How the other half worships: Storefront churches at NBM

Typically, when one thinks of a house of worship one thinks of grand sacred spaces with magnificent spires, stained glass windows, and an established decorum that creates a sense of awe. As communities change from rich to poor or from white to black, the buildings and spaces used for worship also change. A phenomenon that photographer Camilo José Vergara has captured and is now on display at the National Building Museum until November 29th.

In the early 1970s, Vergara began taking documenting the built environment of poor, minority urban communities across the United States. He noticed churches were a prevalent feature of the urban landscape and complied a number of photos to document how the poor in American approach religion and the evolution of spaces of worship.

Vergara explains that in his work he has encountered four main types of house of worship in poor communities:

1. Traditional house of worships. These places of worship are architecturally attractive and awe inspiring buildings, but as whites left the city for suburban communities, these traditional houses of worship were adopted by new congregations typically made up of Blacks or Hispanics.
2. Storefront churches. A storefront church is typically housed in buildings that formerly housed stores. They tend to be poor, temporary, and typically have a very small congregation that consists mostly of the minister’s family and close friends. Vergara found that storefront churches are ubiquitous in poor urban communities and are perceived as a sign of economic decline. Vergara explains that planners and community members dislike seeing former stores turned into churches because they don’t have to pay taxes and don’t bring vitality to distresses urban streets. However, pastors and their congregations see storefront churches as a way to serve the immediate neighborhood. A pastor of a storefront church in Newark explains, “a storefront church is normally a church that is just beginning. Historically they were places where migrants from the South could gather together and form minifamilies. Storefront means everybody know everybody. It also means struggling.” The majority of the exhibit at the National Building Museum focuses on storefront churches. Vergara captures the images of storefront churches in Philadelphia, Detroit, Newark, Los Angeles, and New York. Storefront buildings include banks, an appliance warehouse, a furniture store, a fast-food franchise, a movie theater, a car dealership, homes, and garages. The District was not represented in Vegara’s work, but storefront churches are abundant in poorer communities across DC.
3. Megachurches. This type of house of worship is less common in urban neighborhoods and tend to draw members who are not from the immediate community. Megachurches often lack steeples or soaring towers. Instead they look like corporate offices and do little to enhance the appearance of the surrounding community.
4. Newly constructed churches built for medium-size congregations. These churches are usually built over a period of time as funds become available. They often lack coordinated building plans and produce architecturally interesting, but not always attractive, buildings.

Vergara’s photographs of inner city churches, their members, and their leaders, provides a rare glimpse into role of religion in America, poverty, and the ever changing American city.

The National Building Museum is located at 401 F Street NW at the Judiciary Square Metro. Admission is free. Hours: Mon - Sat 10 am - 5 pm, Sun 11 am - 5 pm.