Constructed in 1921, the church was originally home to Gatch United Methodist Church. The congregation had occupied the site since 1800, making it the second-oldest Methodist church site in Baltimore before its decommissioning in 2006. In 2006, the church was sold to Koinonia Baptist Church. Koinonia was founded by Bishop Douglas Miles, a civic leader who also served as a founder and co-chair of Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD). BUILD is a grassroots coalition of churches and community organizations that advocates for issues such as affordable housing, education, and criminal justice reform. In 1994, BUILD successfully advocated for Baltimore to pass the first living wage law in the country.

Koinonia Baptist Church continues its legacy of advocacy through ongoing work with BUILD, as well as the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore and the Baltimore Interfaith Coalition. The church is also home to a daycare, afterschool programs, a summer camp, a weekly food program, and another congregation that rents the chapel. Koinonia partnered with Johns Hopkins University during the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute food and deliver vaccines in East Baltimore.

In January 2026, a pipe burst in the church during a severe winter storm. The building flooded, with significant damage to the chapel, church office, and daycare room. 

An Intervention Fund grant of $29,796 awarded in 2026 will help the church address interior damages resulting from the burst pipe. This will allow the church, daycare, and other space sharers to return to fully using the facility to serve their community.