Welcome to Charles Village
A Great Place to Live, Work, Study, and Play
Community Spotlight
Charles Village Community Spotlight
Follow our monthly spotlight on our valued neighborhood business and community partners.
Oak Street AME Church
Founded in 1897 as one of the first African Methodist Episcopal churches established in Baltimore City, Oak Street AME Church has served the community for over 125 years. The church took its name from its street location, which was changed to Howard Street in the 1940's. Starting out in a building originally built for former slaves by a president of Goucher College, in the early 1990’s, the church purchased and renovated its current home, the old School #136, once a segregated vocational school for male students.
In its over 125 year history, the church has welcomed 26 pastors to its pulpit. Church records portray Oak Street as a small, close knit, neighborhood church, founded, oriented to and operated by families living on Oak Street and surrounding streets. The church became known as "the little church with the big heart." Many of the descendants of the founding and early families are members of Oak Street today.
Every Monday from 1-4, Oak Street AME hands out bags of food to those in need.
Learn more about the rich history, religious services and community programs of Oak Street AME on their website.
Pastor Will Kenlaw
Oak Street AME Church
123 W. 24th Street
240-350-4624
About Charles Village
Charles Village is a vibrant, walkable neighborhood in north-central Baltimore. Painted Lady home fronts are a well-known and charming characteristic of the neighborhood. Beginning in the 1890s, Charles Village was developed as Baltimore’s first garden suburb with front yards, handsome brick rowhouses with flat facades or porch fronts, and apartment buildings. Charles Village/Abell were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Charles Village is home to such institutions as the Baltimore Museum of Art, Johns Hopkins University, and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. In addition to our tree-lined streets, beautiful gardens, and community-supported public schools, residents enjoy shopping at the 32nd Street Farmers Market and relaxing in Wyman Park Dell. The Village Learning Place, 29th Street Community Center, Charles Village Rec League, Enoch Pratt Library Waverly Branch, and numerous churches further enrich our wonderful community. Restaurants, retail stores, and service businesses are expanding to make Charles Village ever more convenient and vibrant. In 2008, the American Planning Association designated Charles Village as one of 10 Great Places:Neighborhoods in America Charles Village is honored to include multiple, smaller neighborhoods within its general boundaries. Abell, Harwood, Barclay, and Old Goucher each contribute their unique energy to our community tapestry. Residents frequently overlap and collaborate with nearby communities of Waverly, Better Waverly, East Baltimore, Charles North, Remington, Oakenshawe, and beyond!
