In 1840, the first black church, Saint James African United Methodist Protestant Church was formed. Afterward, Mount Olive Baptist Church was established. One year after the building of Mt. Olive Baptist Church the original edifice of Mt. Calvary was built.

The building of Mount Calvary began in 1855, when a group of Christians incorporated to plan a new place of worship. Prior to the building of our church, our members worshipped in a hall down in the grove (the park area of the Relief Association Hall). On February 12, 1889 our present day site was purchased from the Relief Association of Baltimore County for $50.00. The minister and trustees who signed the original deed were Rev. Hammond, pastor, James J. Smith, president and the trustees who were Isaac Robinson, Lewis Chaney, James H. Garrett, Benjamin Johnson, John Wesley Smith, Phillip W. Meyers, Henry Mack and Alfred Black. Other founders were Emma Smith and Aaron Stewart. At the formation of the church, we were known as the Mount Calvary Methodist Protestant Church of Baltimore County.

Although our church was originally a Protestant denominational church, the African Methodist Episcopal Conference was requested to provide preachers for our pulpit. A gentlemen’s agreement was made between our church and the A.M.E. Conference. The A.M.E. Conference supplied preachers to Mt. Calvary with the stipulation that the church assumed all financial obligations for the church.

In 1968, under the pastorship of Rev. Reginald Boston, our original sanctuary was totally destroyed by fire. After the fire,Rev. Boston moved Mount Calvary’s congregation to the First Lutheran Church on Burke Avenue in Towson. The former sanctuary was erected under Rev. Boston’s leadership.

In 1973 Rev. Reginald Boston was appointed to Grace A.M.E. Church, and Rev. William Gray III became pastor of Mount Calvary. Rev. Gray led Mt. Calvary in accomplishing many improvements and financial goals such as: central air conditioning, a new chancel, added piece of property, a new dining area and Sunday School room, new pews and the churches debt freedom from major expenses.

As a result of the A.M.E. Second Episcopal District’s 1986 mid year conference, Rev. Gray was sent to Saint Stephens A.M.E. Church. At that time, Mount Calvary received its first woman minister, Rev. Ann Farrar Lightner .

Since Rev. Doctor Lightner-Fuller began her pastorship at Mt. Calvary, our church has grown spiritually, physically, and economically. As our congregation grew under her leadership, she implemented the radio broadcast ministry and an additional Sunday worship service (8 a.m. service) which began on September 6, 1992. While ministering at Mt. Calvary, she has earned her doctorate in ministry. With the use of her doctorate degree, she has successfully implemented three distinctly different mentoring programs (one for women, men, and youth). In addition, she has been instrumental in expanding our church’s outreach, economic development and stewardship commitments. Her God given gift to develop, organize and deliver sermons has earned her recognition in Ebony magazine as one of the nation’s greatest black women preachers.

In 1991, Rev. Lightner shared her vision to build a new Mount Calvary Sanctuary and education building with the congregation. From the moment of unveiling the vision to the congregation up to today, she has diligently and faithfully led the congregation through the peaks and valleys. Under her leadership, we have acquired the additional land needed, obtained the various Baltimore County variances, and secured the mortgage to build our new sanctuary. Pastor Fuller has personally overseen the construction, and furnishing of our new building.

Our present sanctuary could not have been built, however, without the additional assistance of the Metro Housing Corporation (under the direction of Mr. Francis Inglehart, the late Dr. Eugene Byrd), Albert Ruebling and Associates, Baltimore County Government, H & R Consultants, Nations bank, Veronica Reaves, the trustees, stewards, members, and friends of Mount Calvary.