I attended this church last weekend and had a pleasant experience with many great believers. When I am on travel, I like to visit churches and I am very glad I didn't miss out on Capitol Hill Baptist. Mark Dever unapologetically preaches from the Word of God in a region of the country that is desperate for truth. The music was phenomenal, highlighted by natural acoustics and the voices of many joyful Christians. If you are in the DC area and need a great Church that speaks truth directly from the Bible, I would give this place a visit! read more

The church service was beautiful, featuring hymns, responsive readings, and expository teaching. It embodied everything my husband and I had been searching for in a church. However, the community was incredibly unkind. As first-time visitors, we were unsure where to go when we arrived, and no one offered assistance. Despite seeing us looking lost, ushers and other church workers neither greeted us nor helped us find our way. When we finally located the sanctuary and asked about the children's classes, the ushers continued to walk past without speaking, and some looked at us without offering a greeting or welcome. As I walked down the hall, a woman who seemed to be either a church worker or a regular member shoved past me, looked me up and down, and continued on to talk to someone else. During our almost three-hour visit, only three people spoke to us: two ladies who sat near us and one person we happened to know. We are African American, but there were many other African Americans and people of color in attendance, which made the unkindness we experienced even more confusing. This level of unkindness and disregard was something we had never encountered in a church before. It was deeply disappointing to witness such a beautiful and meaningful service, only to see the absence of Christ's love in how the members and workers treated visitors. Despite arriving early and seeing numerous people with "usher" badges, not a single one welcomed us. My hope is that this church, with its beautiful service, learns to demonstrate the love of God they preach about by showing kindness to visitors. Training ushers to greet and welcome newcomers could make a significant difference. We had heard so many wonderful things about this church and were excited to visit. We were hungry for good theological teaching, hymns, and solid Christian fellowship. Instead, we left feeling unwelcome in the community. read more

Welcoming and inviting members and staff. biblically sound teaching.

I was referred to CHBC by a friend in California. My first Sunday I was out of my element, all they sang were hymns! Never underestimate God's word in music, sung sometimes a-capella to invoke a feeling of a truly joyous body of believers. I love hymns now. After I became a member (highly encouraged) and getting plugged in, I found it easy to make real friends. People care about one another, people pray for one another and are a church. The Gospel is central to the church and Pastor Mark will preach it every Sunday. Service starts at 10:30 and ends around 12:30 with a sermon around an hour. Be prepared. People hang around after church and talk, like family and go out and share a meal together. Christ and her Church are the cornerstone of their lives. There are about 680 members and the pews are filled most Sunday mornings. Get there at 1030 and you will not have a problem finding a seat. There is a parking lot for visitors on the premisis, otherwise street parking. 50% (approx) of members live in Capitol Hill. They have a 6pm evening service which I think of as family, they have a couple hymns, prayer requests/praises from the congregation and a short message, normally relating to the morning's sermon. read more

Capitol Hill Baptist Church - Churches Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I think this is one of the most educated congregations in the country. They have a huge reverence for the Word and do not hurry through a worship service. The services will last about two hours on a Sunday morning. The preaching is usually about 65 minutes. Hymns are usually printed in a bulletin - no projectors or anything contemporary to speak of. This church is not for everyone, but it has a lot of great things going for it. Check out there massive audio library on their website - I think Mark preaches much better than the others, so keep that in mind if you are visiting to make sure he is there. The church only does one service on Sundays, so the congregation can be tighter knit. The elders play a very active role in the church. Very few things are broken up by age or social grouping - they want everyone to grow and learn from each other at all ages. read more

Great antique interior and space available inside, but excessive amounts of hymns during service and overcrowding leave room for only three stars. The interior is well-designed. There are two stories for the congregation to sit at, allowing room for more people to sit on the second level and look down at the service. This Church is an older facility, and it is readily evidenced by the accommodations inside. There is a degree of antiquity to this space that you just don't see that often anymore. Unfortunately, there were too many people trying to fit in too small of a space. We were limited to seating in a back room, in which there was a TV broadcasting a live image of the altar, but the video kept freezing every few seconds, creating a delay. It's evident that the place was built for a congregation much smaller than what was present. Unfortunately, it seems this Church has had this problem for some time. While my friend who is a regular parishioner found us seats easily, I don't believe I could have easily or comfortably made my way to a seat if I had attended alone, nor were there people available who could offer a helping hand to find seats in the midst of the chaotic crowd when we walked in. The service is made up mostly of hymns. The ratio of song to spoken word was probably 3:1. I like to hear more from the pastor on the Bible and how to apply Biblical lessons to my life throughout the week, but I don't mind praise and worship songs to an extent. The amount of song required, and the fact that they were scripted hymns, was not an enjoyment. Overall, it has a great interior that offers its own charm, and there are devices in place to help with large crowds, but overcrowding is a serious issue here. I don't feel it's easy for someone new to have an enjoyable visit. These factors give this place only a three star rating. read more

Having read many books by Mark Dever, I was excited to visit. I came on a Wednesday night, so it was low key. Which I prefer. Just straight bible teaching. And Mark brought a great lesson out of 1 Corinthians. It was spiritually edifying and encouraging. The way Mark interacted with the congregation was respectful and beautiful. If I lived in DC, I would have already found a church. But I don't, so I'll just have to visit from time to time. Gospel centered churches like this are hard to come by. read more

Awesome Church! Visited for my first time today and Id rate it higher if I could!! The service was lively and Bible centered. The worship was out of this world, not because it was "ultra contemporary", but because of it authenticity. With only a light piano and guitar, they didn't highlight main singers, but let the congregations voice be the main act of worship. With 1000 people in attendance, the whole building singing as one is definitely an awe-inspiring moment! The main service included a ton of praise and worship which was wonderful, and the sermon really broke down the truth of the passage, digging deep and not just skimming the surface of the same message over and over again. I've been to a few Churches in my life from traveling, etc. but this Church is definitely much different than any Church I've ever been to; I say this in the highest regard. It was rather unconventional, but never the less I loved it; before the sermon they offered classes for you to participate in (on a range of subjects) and you could learn applicable knowledge, theological teaching, evangelism tips, etc! It was amazing and I learned some great stuff! Also, this congregation is amazing. Never have I seen a more tight knit, loving, family oriented group of people. Everyone seems to know everyone, and they spend a whole hour on Sunday evening just praying for one another. The group is a young one, with a lot of families, as well as young adults. Very diverse ethnicities, and everyone acts like a big loving family! To end this review, overall the Church is a 10/10. Actually, a 11/10. You NEED to visit! This was my first time visiting but it certainly won't be my last! read more

According to Yelp, the three-star rating that I am giving to Capitol Hill Baptist Church is a rating of "A-OK!'.... yet my own thoughts on once having been a member of this church are much, much more complicated. The leaders and the congregation are certainly enthusiastic (in an orderly way) in their love and espousal of Christ's message of repentance and salvation. Being a Baptist church which holds to Reformational, Calvinistic theology, there is a strong emphasis on salvation being "by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone." The sermons are expositional in nature, with the preaching tending to be "verse-by-verse" through entire books of the Bible. Regular attenders are encouraged to become members of the church, and members are encouraged to live lives of winsome, joyful evangelism. It's a very warm congregation in many ways. I was actively loved, helped, encouraged, and exhorted by the fellow members during my time at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (also called "CHBC" by many of the members). There is another side to life at CHBC though, and it's one that can be hard to see *until* one has already become a committed member. The leaders espouse what they call "Biblical church discipline" as one of their so-called "9 Marks of a Healthy Church." At CHBC, Biblical church discipline means that any person who is a member of the church, and who is found, *by the leaders*, to be in what they consider to be unrepentant sin (according to their interpretation and application of the Bible), can become involved in a process which may result in virtual excommunication from the life of the church. In theory, as preached from the pulpit, this Biblical church discipline is supposed to end, either with the person's repentance from his/her sin and restoration to full, active life in the church, or with the person's excommunication from the church-- but even in the latter case, the person is *not* supposed to be utterly shunned by the leaders and the congregation. Again, this is in theory, as preached from the pulpit. In practice though, people who are excommunicated *do* end up being shunned. Many of them lose almost their entire community of friends at CHBC. I saw it happen to people there, and it could be devastating to them. I understand that the intentions behind the shunning were often probably good. "Tough love." "Force them to face their sin." "Don't coddle them and allow them to feel good in their rebellion." However, the people being disciplined often just ended up being emotionally wrecked. I was never disciplined while at CHBC. There was never a need. I was a happy and committed member. I did eventually move to a very theologically and ecclesiologically similar church in New Mexico, and I was also a happy, committed member there. During those years though, I began to read more widely and began to do very serious research into the subject of church history-- well before the Reformation. In particular, I began to read the early Church Fathers and discovered *their* interpretations of Scripture-- readings which often clashed with certain things that I had been taught as being "Biblical" at CHBC and at my new church. Long story short (or not!)-- after much study and prayer, I became convicted that I needed to return to the Catholic Church, which I had left many years earlier. Due to this conviction, which I acted on, I did undergo a process of "Biblical church discipline" at the church in New Mexico-- *but* I was not shunned by the leaders or the congregation. However, when news of my "Catholic reversion" began to spread on the internet, and through other ways, I was shunned by the huge majority of my friends from CHBC. Not by all of them, mind you... but by most of them. I was "unfriended," without one word to me, publicly or privately, on Facebook, by the main preaching elder of the church. I was also unfriended by other members of CHBC-- people whom I had worshiped alongside for years and considered to be true friends. Eventually, I moved from New Mexico back to the Maryland/D.C. area. I continued to be a practicing Catholic Christian-- and continued to be shunned by most of my CHBC friends. The reason for this shunning, as far as I can tell, is that at CHBC, one is taught that "the Catholic Church teaches a false gospel of works-righteousness." The elders at the church literally believe, and literally preach, that if one consistently believes, and consistently practices, what the Catholic Church teaches, then one is, by definition, not a Christian and will, short of "repentance," go to Hell. This is very important for anyone visiting CHBC to know. The leaders do not consider "consistent Catholics" to be Christians-- and if you are a member of CHBC, and you ever leave for either the Catholic Church or Eastern Orthodoxy, you will not only undergo church discipline at CHBC, but you will quite likely lose most of your friends from the church. Fair warning! read more

I loved praying with the congregation as the young assistant presented weighty prayers. Met a nice young couple sitting next to me. I think that many who attend or are members of this church do not know or understand the dangers of the "reformed movement" and its impact. Read another review on Yelp about someone's experience watching church discipline at this church. From his description, it is unbiblical in the way it was handled. The leadership theology appears to be saved by grace and sanctified by the law. I was told by someone at the church that i should not join unless i live right there in the neighborhood. Strange that i would have to live down the street from the church. Also heard Mark Dever communicate the social gospel theology from pulpit. Wish i could recommend this church but can't. read more

My wife and I have been to Capitol Hill Baptist Church only twice, but we absolutely love it. There is a reverence for God that is absent in most contemporary churches today. One noticeable thing is that people sing there their hearts out there. Even though they only sing hymns, and some contemporary songs that sound like hymns, they sing with more pasion that most folks in "charismatic" congregations. The worship here brought my wife and I to tears. The gospel is preached here and Christ is worshiped here. What more do you need to know. If you live in the area, this is the best church home that you will find. read more

My wife and I attended CHBC yesterday. Very rich. God centered worship through music and clear preaching of God's Word. If you have the opportunity to visit Washington D.C., visit CHBC on a Sunday morning. read more

The only things that brought my ratings down: the sermon seemed to go on forever and forever. My friend laughingly said afterwards that she should have prepared me for it. Also, this church is very definitely Southern Baptist; the main focuses were humans' unworthiness, our sins calling for God's judgement, and the greatness of God that we can be redeemed through Jesus Christ. If you are more inclined towards broadly Christian, this may not be a fit for you. Also, all of the elders are men only, and a church booklet in the bookstore condemned homosexuality. Those last two things might be incidental or not representative of the church as a whole. I don't know. I personally need a more progressive church. Otherwise, the church has a very diverse, mostly younger congregation, full of friendly and welcoming people. The church itself is very nice, well-kept, simple but modern looking. In a lovely neighborhood. Loved that when I visited, the congregation sang hymns and choruses from the printed program. I'm not a fan of churches having projectors and Christian contemporary type music, so this was great. I also liked that there wasn't some giant choir being the focus rather than the congregation singing itself. The pastor, as well as everyone else in the church, seemed very Christ focused and dedicated. read more

My family now refuses to attempt to go to this church. As much as I liked the sermon the one day we actually could get a seat, we almost passed out from the heat. It was roasting in there and the air did not come on until the service was almost over and was ineffectual. The next Sunday some little dweeb seemed very excited to tell us that unless we got there 30 minutes early we would never get a seat. Like it was a contest. This does not glorify God. Time for separate services or buy that old church around the corner and start a new one. Better yet D.C. needs more reformed churches. Sad that we are sitting home this Sunday because there is 'no room at the Inn'. read more

Read all these great comments about it on yelp. I attended twice. One sermon was about how 'suffering' is great for the Lord, and that Christians will suffer in this earth. All well and good, but upon closer reflection, sounded like a kind of self-glorifying talk. To my knowledge, salvation never depends on suffering. I was invited out for lunch by a lady, and went for lunch after service with a few other people. I was interrogated on what I thought was the 'gospel' and I was uncomfortable with speaking so intimately with people I just met, and my concise answers were met with an unspoken derision that I was ignorant of the true gospel. They proceeded to give me a pseudo-lecture on what I was ignorant about, in spite of the fact that I already knew it and was merely being tight-lipped because I was uncomfortable sharing with this bunch of people. Sadly, when religious belief takes hold of a person, sometimes it leads them to do stupid, insensitive, narrow-minded things. To be honest, their 'zeal' for the Lord was so great it felt like a cult. I gathered they had the pride & narrow-mindedness that comes with speaking only with, or rather, taking seriously only people who share their point of view. read more