Reverend Samuel H. James

In 1928, upon the recommendation of Dr. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York, Reverend Samuel James became the new pastor. Young and ambitious, he saw Leadenhall as a great institutional church serving the needs of the people in a neglected section of Baltimore. Under his pastorate, the church made much-needed renovations to include a new baptismal pool, heating plant, a new roof, and an organ. There were plans for a recreation center, but the plans were halted by the Great Depression. After seven years of service,

Reverend James resigned to continue his education in Topeka, Kansas. His farewell sermon was “Have a Vision of God and Not a Glance.”