United House of Prayer for All People collection

The United House of Prayer for All People is a Church founded from the Pentecostal movement by Charles Manuel Grace (Marcelino Manuel da Graca) (1882?-1960), who proclaimed himself as "Bishop" in 1919. Marcelino Manuel da Graca was born in Brava Verde in the Cape Verde Islands. C. M. Grace was known as Sweet Daddy Grace. Following his death in 1960, Walter McCollough assumed the position of Bishop. He died in 1991 after which the current Bishop S.C. Madison assumed the role of Church leader.

In 1919 Bishop Grace built the first United House of Prayer For All People in West Wareham, Massachusetts, and incorporated the United House of Prayer for All People in Washington, D.C. in 1927. As of 2007, The United House of Prayer for All People has over 100 places of worship in 23 states. The National Headquarters for the church is located in Washington, D.C. As seen on the Church's website the purpose of the organization is " . . . to establish maintain and perpetuate the doctrine of Christianity and the Apostolic Faith throughout the world among all people; To erect and maintain houses of prayer and worship where all people may gather for prayer and to worship the Almighty God in spirit and in truth, irrespective of denomination or creed, and to maintain the Apostolic Faith of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

The headquarters located at 601 M Street NW is listed as a site in the Cultural Tourism DC African American Trail database. The description of the church includes the following "One of the first United House of Prayer churches opened in 1929 at 601 M Street, NW. It joined a number of storefront churches born during the Great Depression (1929-1939). Grace's theology was based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Old Testament, as well as the power of the Holy Ghost. Grace was a charismatic leader who amassed a great fortune. Many of his followers joined the church while experiencing one of the many revivals and baptisms that Grace offered throughout the country. He was known for his flamboyant style, evidenced by his green and purple coats with gold trimmings, his long fingernails painted red, white, and blue, and his flowing hair. During the 1950s, he lived at 11 Logan Circle, NW. Bishop Walter McCullough succeeded Grace. Under his leadership, the church built low-rent housing projects throughout the city, including McCullough Canaanland Apartments, Paradise Gardens, and McCullough Haven for senior citizens, all in the Shaw neighborhood. "