Rush Memorial Congregational Church received its initial beginnings in 1913 from Dr. John Allen Rush, DD, and some ardent supporters from Central Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dr. Rush and his followers were determined to have a church. They started having meetings in Morgan Williams Hall and became known as The People's Church. During this time, they were raising funds and seeking help to build their church building. The members finally purchased land at 150 Chestnut Street SW and built a Sunday School building to be used until they could be a sanctuary.

While the building was being constructed, the People's Church was able to get help from The American Missionary Association (later known as The Board Of Homeland Ministries) and they worshipped in Stone Hall, later known as Fountain Hall on Morris Brown Campus.

Services were held in Stone Hall until the Sunday School building was completed. Dr. Rush died in 1915 and was succeeded by Dr. James Bond, The grandfather of State Senator Julian Bond and former councilman, James Bond. At that time the name was changed to Rush Memorial Congregational Church.

During the mid-thirties Mrs. Rush opened a thrift Shop in the Sunday School building to raise money for the sanctuary that had not been built. Over the years she reached her building fund amount of 10,000 dollars. Mrs. Rush lived to see the sanctuary built and worshipped here until her death 1960.

Rush was also home to an elementary school, the first black boy scout troop of Atlanta, and SNCC also convened here.

The following ministers served as pastors of Rush:

• Dr. John A. Rush
• Dr. James Bond
• Rev. George J. Thomas
• Rev. Samuel P. Fields
• Rev. Samuel J. Linsay
• Rev. Alanza P. Wallace
• Rev. Harvey E. Johnson
• Rev. E. A McGlaughin
• Rev. Louis J. Beasley
• Rev. Edgar T. Tatum
• Rev. John J. Hicks
• Rev. John L. Jackson
• Rev. John E. Garnett
• Rev. Milton L. Upton
• Rev. Joseph E. Boone
• Rev. Arthur Langford, Jr.
• Rev. Lawrence E. Calbert, Sr.