Maryland pastor works to save ‘Annie’s Church’

Maryland pastor works to save ‘Annie’s Church’

BALTIMORE — Southern Baptist Pastor Ryan Palmer is confident he’ll save his historic Seventh Metro Church, Baltimore, from a developer attempting to buy the property for pennies on the dollar through a city auction.

Seventh Metro has historical significance as the site of Southern Baptist missionary Annie Armstrong’s baptism in 1869 and is commonly referred to as “Annie’s Church.” The late missionary is the namesake of the North American Mission Board’s annual Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

The City of Baltimore auctioned the church in 2016 through a contested system that allows the city to place tax liens on homes and businesses — including tax-exempt churches — to recover outstanding water bills.

At issue for Seventh Metro are a $6,000 water bill and the tax lien auction procedure, both of which Palmer is contesting.

“It is uncognizable that 20 people could incur a $6,000 water bill meeting two hours a week on 52 Sundays and midweek Bible study,” Palmer said. “We are not only contesting the water bill but we are also contesting the unlawful practice that is going on here in Baltimore.”

In the meantime, a California developer identified as Christopher Bryan has already bought the debt and has bid $53,000 on the property assessed at $1.4 million, the Baltimore Sun reported in May.

“Truthfully we have every confidence that we will be able to redeem the property,” he said. (BP)