In 1835, Eli Nugent was a member of the congregation at Foundry Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington. He was just one of several Black worshippers at the church. Since its founding in 1814, Foundry had preached to people of all races. Many in Washington’s free Black community joined the congregation, worshipping alongside white politicians and the well-to-do. In theory, Foundry seemed inclusive—in practice, the treatment of Nugent and his fellow Black worshippers wasn’t exactly Christian. Like most of Washington’s churches at the time, Foundry was operated by the white members of the congregation. Though they tolerated the Black worshippers at weekly services, they never quite welcomed them into the community, exerting “parent-like control” in every way that they could.