The rare Singing and Praying Bands of America

By Nick O'Malley
Updated May 25 2015 - 6:15pm, first published 5:54pm
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (left)  the great grand son of a slave, leads a Singing and Praying Band group at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
 Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (left) the great grand son of a slave, leads a Singing and Praying Band group at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Hall United Methodist Church.
On a Sunday morning Singing and Praying Bands of Maryland and Delaware congregate to sing and pray together. Their white dress is intended to represent the uniforms worn by slaves.
 Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Hall United Methodist Church. On a Sunday morning Singing and Praying Bands of Maryland and Delaware congregate to sing and pray together. Their white dress is intended to represent the uniforms worn by slaves. Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (left)  the great-grandson of a slave, wipes sweat from his brow as he listens to the prayers of members of a Singing and Praying Band group at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

 Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (left) the great-grandson of a slave, wipes sweat from his brow as he listens to the prayers of members of a Singing and Praying Band group at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Bible reading at the Hall United Methodist Church. Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Bible reading at the Hall United Methodist Church. Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Singing and praying at the Hall United Methodist church in Maryland.  Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Singing and praying at the Hall United Methodist church in Maryland. Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (centre), at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
 Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (centre), at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (left) listens to the prayers of members of a Singing and Praying Band group at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland.
 Photo: Dermot Tatlow
Pastor Jerry Colbert, 64, (left) listens to the prayers of members of a Singing and Praying Band group at the Hall United Methodist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Photo: Dermot Tatlow

Glen Burnie: On a sweltering Sunday morning in a little church not far from Washington, DC, a mesmerising singing rises and falls, rises and falls, over and again - each peak higher than the previous - before the band reaches a joyous clapping, foot-stamping crescendo an hour after their quiet start.

Get the latest Katoomba news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.