A Who’s Who of clergy, legislators and community members packed the newly refurbished Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church in Potomac to celebrate all those who had a hand in resurrecting the church from flooding and discrimination.
Wednesday, the sun shone brightly on the small church on Seven Locks Road in Potomac as the community marked its rebuilding after flooding in 2019 destroyed its foundation and closed the building to worshipers for five years.
“This is a marvelous gathering not just for the church, but all those who supported us. This project has come to fruition,” declared Rev. Dr. Evalina Huggins. “This is a community church. Don’t think for one moment that this isn’t a community church,” she said.
The Scotland church was built by newly freed Black people and was one of 40 such communities. Many of the original residents and their ancestors still live there.
Speakers included major donors, county and state legislators, Together, they raised about $9 million and still need another $2 million to pay all their bills, according to Huggins.
The original building was completed on Sept. 14, 1924, and still stands as does an addition that was built in 1963. Now, it’s been refurbished, and the ground around it stabilized.
This morning, we celebrated the rebirth of Scotland AME Zion Church—a building nearly lost to floods, now restored through community power and partnership. It’s more than a church; it’s a symbol of resilience, history, and what’s possible when we fight to preserve our roots. pic.twitter.com/25rq2hSL8H
— Montgomery County, MD – County Exec Marc Elrich (@MontCoExec) April 30, 2025
