July 1984

Bishop John Hurst Adams assigned the Rev. Milford Rhodes to establish a church in the Alexandria/Arlington area of Northern Virginia. On the First Sunday in July 1984, First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Arlington/Alexandria held its first worship service. Services were held at the Hoffman Boston Elementary School in Arlington, VA.

Metropolitan A.M.E. Church of Washington, DC was the sponsoring church with support from Reid Temple A.M.E. Church of Washington, DC (now in Glendale, MD). By September, the membership increased to six.

Of those six original members, Brother James Brown and Sister Calister Anthony are still active members of the church.

April 1985

At the Washington Annual Conference, Bishop John Adams appointed Reverend Richard Rose as pastor. The congregation began worshipping at 2:00 pm at St. James United Methodist Church in Alexandria, VA.

Worship services were later held at 8:00 am at the Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in the Franconia section of Fairfax County. Reverend Tona Gilbert Rose, wife of Reverend Richard Rose, came and served briefly with us before the family left the area. They were the first ministry “team” to serve at First A.M.E.

Reverend Baron Young was appointed pastor. His wife, Reverend Karen Young, joined him.

September 1989

Reverends Young and the congregation moved to the Mount Vernon District of Fairfax County. Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School was the chosen site. Worship was at 10:45 am. Bible Study was added to the ministry at the site.

Bishop H. Hartford Brookins appointed Reverend Barbara Y. Glenn as pastor and she was joined by her husband Reverend Marvin T. Glenn, Jr.

October 1992

On the first Sunday, the congregation moved to our present location, the second floor of 8653 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA. (Affectionately called “The Upper Room”).

On this Sunday, the first baptisms were celebrated, Jessica and Jasmine Leonard., First A.M.E. Church of Alexandria began holding two worship services at 8:00 am and 11:00 am.

April 2008

Th congregation became the owners of the 8653 Richmond Highway property.

Bishop Vinton R. Anderson appointed Reverend Deloris A.B. Prioleau as Pastor.

Bishop Anderson appointed Reverend Kevin L. Jefferson as pastor. Reverend Jefferson was joined by his wife, Reverend Marlene R. Jefferson, and she became the first Assistant Pastor of First A.M.E. Church of Alexandria.

April 2007

Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson appointed Reverend Courtney Canty as pastor. Joining Reverend Canty were his wife, Reverend Robin Canty, and their daughter, Minister Charisma Canty, who was a licensed preacher in training.

April 2009

Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson appointed Reverend Abraham Smith, Jr. as the seventh pastor of First A.M.E. Church of Alexandria. He served in this position until his retirement in July 2022.

July 2022

Bishop James L. Davis appointed Reverend Andre Christian as the eighth pastor of First A.M.E. Church of Alexandria.

In addition to our 10:00 am Sunday Worship Service, we have Church School at 8:45 am on Sunday morning, Faith Bible Study on Wednesday at 6:30 pm, and multiple ministry teleconferences during the week.

We here at F.A.M.E. Church firmly believe that a new era in our church’s history has just begun as we look toward each year of celebration.