Born in Tennessee, Rev. Sterling Brown was educated at Fisk University and the Oberlin Theological Seminary.  He was the pastor of Mt. Zion Congregation Church in Cleveland, Ohio, Plymouth Park Temple, and Lincoln Temple Congregational Church in Washington, DC. 

At Lincoln Temple, an institutional church, Dr. Brown introduced a business school and an employment agency, and made Lincoln a central meeting place of such organizations as the Bethel Literary and Historical Society and the Samuel Coleridge – Taylor Choral Society.  Dr. Brown taught in the Howard University Theological Department from 1892 until 1914. 

When leaving the active ministry, he taught full time, organizing the Extension Study Department, and writing a book, Bible Mastery.  He served two terms on the DC Board of Education.  In 1924, Rev. Brown wrote a biography named My Life Story.  After over forty years of connection with Howard University, he retired in 1929, just a few months prior to his death.