D e l m a r v a l o u s ! Dorchester County

Churches give input on historical project

ABES News Services

ABES News Services Church representatives attended a meeting on Saturday at the Empowerment Center in Cambridge regarding a historical project which will focus upon buildings 50 years or older in Dorchester County used by African-American congregations. On the right, photographer David Harp displayed a photograph of the New Revived church on Smithville Road. Next to him is Armond Hayward II, the historian for the project. In the background from the left are minister Lenora Mister of The Anointed One ministries, Ethel Farrare of John Wesley U.M.C., and the Reverend Sandra M. Brown of Union Chapel A.M.E.

CAMBRIDGE -- Church representatives gathered Saturday at the Empowerment Center on Pine Street in Cambridge to provide input regarding the creation of a display of buildings 50 years or older in Dorchester County used by African-American congregations. The display will be used for historical, tourism, and community purposes.

The project is sponsored by the Pine Street Committee (PSC) in partnership with a $950 matching grant from the Maryland Heritage Authority, the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area.

The Reverend Sandra M. Brown of Union Chapel A.M.E. said highlighting the spiritual experiences in Dorchester County and what the church and its ministry meant for the community should be part of the goals for the display. She said one thing that was important was, "how it was used to empower and move people forward in all the things of their lives."

"I would just like the community to know that the Black church has been a main thing in our Black lives. Our churches were something that we could look upon," said Ethel Farrare of John Wesley U.M.C. "It was like a pillar. Sometimes I think young people are forgetting that pillar."

Minster Lenora Mister of The Anointed One Ministries said, "I am hoping that this would help somebody to get rooted and grounded in the Word of God." She said so many people lost today do not know which way to turn. "The church could be a positive factor in their life. There's too many people falling by the wayside."

Francis Boardley of Mt. Pleasant U.M.C. said, "So many of us have forgotten how important the early Black church was to the Black community. The history of the early Black church and the early Black schools was interwoven. Schools were owned and supported by the Black church."

He added, "It was not until 1884 that the state constructed a school for colored children in the state of Maryland."

Gilbert Cephas of Waters U.M.C. said the display will make people more aware of area churches that might be able to meet their spiritual quest. It could also help growing congregations know which buildings might be available to relocate to if those buildings are not used frequently.

Portia Johnson-Ennels of the PSC said more people need to understand how their churches originated, and young people should realize churches were also used for education. "Education was the number one reason for the church. The education part came in because the state did not believe that Blacks should be educated," she said.

Historian for the project Armond Hayward II said an objective would be, "to show the Black church in all of its many facets."

"I hope out of this we will prove or show how important the church was in education," he said.

Photographer David Harp said, "I think there is a heritage here in the physical structures, which is what I can show."

He added, "It will be a nice record -- having all these buildings that meet our criteria [displayed] in one place."

Both Harp and Hayward are donating their services. Octavene Saunders of the PSC said that represents a lot of personal expense and professional time. "We're really getting a blessing and a bargain with this," she said.

The display will be unveiled March 15 at the Empowerment Center. Congregations involved in the project include the New Revived church on Smithville Road, Bazel U.M.C. in Bucktown, John Wesley U.M.C. in Church Creek, St. Peters U.M.C. near the corner of Swan Harbor and Hooper Island Roads, Christ U.M.C. on Aireys Road, Union Chapel A.M.E. 5160 Cordtown Road, Vaughn Chapel Church Creek, Mt. Pleasant U.M.C., Waters U.M.C., and Full Gospel Church of God in Christ #2 204 Academy Street in Hurlock.

In Cambridge, congregations include Waugh Chapel 425 High Street, Zion Baptist 600 Cross Street, The Anointed One Ministries 414 Muir Street, New Jerusalem Church in Christ Jesus 815 Center Street, Bethel A.M.E. 623 Pine Street, and St. Luke U.M.C. 712 Bradley Avenue.

The display will include a framed black and white photograph of each building with historical and other information next to it. Some details might include church's original and present name, who started the congregation, location, denominational affiliation if any, present pastor, vision statement, Scripture verse, the company or individuals who built the building, the year the building was built, time of services, and the name of the charge listed, if any, along with the names of the churches within that charge.