The Democratic advocate., 1888-01-14

| In the Maryland Churchmdn for Decem-
Der 10, 1887. we find the following communi-
cation, which will be read with interest by a
large number OF cur subscribers, as it gives a
history of one of the oldest churches in this
State:
THE CHURCH IN CARROLL COUNTY.
Holy Trinity Church, Carroll county, Nd origi-
mated on March s. III, when John Welsh entered
into bond in the penal sum of two hundred
Robert TVS. Edward Dorsey and John Elder two
acres of land. provided the said persons would
build "a Chappell OF Ease for The benefit OF Dale,
county. This chapel was an oifshoot from st.
Thonlas's Parish. Baltimore county. when the rep
resentatiye men and families of thai section OF the
State were of Church of England descent aud under
| the spiritual and educational charge Of the Rev.
whose work largely influenced the civilization of
that day. Wild beasts and Indians had not entirely
disappeared before the advance OF civilization from
| the lower counties Of Maryland when the pioneers
of-Delaware Hundred" erected small stone church
In beautiful grove of primeyal oaks near Elders,
land prior to l76 and they. together with Dorseys
| Snowdens. Cockeys and Gists of Revolutionary
fame. were the chief supports of Holy Trinity
| Church.
In those early days churches were few and far be-
| tween Holy Trinity antedates any other in its
| vicinity. The "parsonr rode horseback many
miles to keep his appointments. yet the laity were
more regular church-goers than the ease-loying
owing to irregular services and other drawbacks
Trinity congregation thinned out in the lapse OF
was the Rev. - Davis. father of the late Hon.
Henry Winter Davis, of Baltimore. By this time the
/ near Holy Trinity and began to draw the people.
The Methodists were cradled in Carroll county in
1760. Robert Strawbridge. from Ireland, formed at
Sans Creek, Carroll county, the first Methodist
Society in America. When he died. in 17Sl, he was
living upon a farm given 70 MN ior lie py the
wealthy Episcopalian, Charles Ridgely, of "Hamp-
For several years the Baptists held meetings in old
| Trinity edifice- They, too. were unable TO Keep
together congregation, and ruin and dissertation
| came to the ancient house of God. The new county
of Carroll had been made when Samuel Gore. a
local Methodist preacher of Freedom district culti-
waited field around the church grounds. and he did
not scruple to use the eonseerated palldihg as a
religion of Strawbridge made its followers rejoice
at the ruin of the older sanctuary-daughter of the
In 1S,i George Frazier Warfeld prominent mer-
chant of Baltimore, and his family of grown sons
| He had married Rebecca Brown, daughter Of Able
Brown, one of the founders OF Holy Trinity Cnurch
Mrs wareld was lady oi piey ana pen GeneVSience S @
Trinity Church, Eldersburg.
Itmay not be amiss to state here. since Groyeland
will one day become "Warfield College under con
troll of the Diocese of Maryland, that the Warelds
have been jealous in the cause OF Church and
schools since colonial days and contributed largely
in tobacco-the currency of the Provinee-to build
free schools early 1892 They were largely IN
strumental in building ST. Annes Church Annapo-
lis in l7O6 and father and sons are on record as
vestrymen OF Middle Neck" Parish, Anne Arundle
county from the year 1896 to l7S3. The family OF
WartlelQS
culture and refinement combined with Christian
graces. The history of that family is closely con
nected with the growth OF ciyiiizanon IN MaryIanu,
movement of the times and aided every neighDor-
hood Improvement
In lsIS they. with James Sykes, Jesse Hollings-
worth Warner w Warfield and others, took
measures for the restoration of Holy Trinity Church.
which was then a roofiess, hoorless ruin June LIST.
1913, Holy Trinity Parish formed BY act of
Convention out part of ST Thomass, Baltimore
county, In few months the old edlnce was re.
4. cl,ad md 1
was consecrated anew by Bishop Whittngham.
Prior to that date the Bishop visited the newly made
parish and held morning and afternoon services at
Mount Pleasant" Church. which was kindly loaned
by the Methodist Protestants to their Episcopal
on thes by b RsSon S b et
elected in is Il were George f. Maricld and William
W Warfield. of "Groyeland." Warner W. Warfield.
of "Bagdad.' James Sykes. Jesse llollingsworth
George W. Manro, John Calhoon and Nicholas
Dorsey OF that first vestry Judge Manro is the
The Rev, David Hillhouse Buel. of New York, was
called to be the rector. Mr.. Buel was young man
of gentleness. piety and conservatism; lie was
outside prejudice changed to good will, and the
church grew in influence and numbers. The old
and services were held by Mr.. Buel fortnightly at
syResVilie, Westminster, and Lisbon. Howard coun-
" The services at Lisbon were held i'll the school
room of Miss Margaret Heckrote. but upon the oc-
casion Of visit from the Bishop the Methodiss Of
fered their church for the continuation service
Since that first missionary work instituted by the
rector of Holy Trinity Church, two hourishiug
parishes have been organized near Lisbon. AS yet
and II covered an area of 30 square miles with the
Church people scattered about within boundaries
embracing parts of Baltimore and Howard counties.
Ascension Church, Westminster. was organized by
Mr. Buel in the year 1872 and Il remained under the
charge of the rector of Holy Trinity Church until
1857 The extended work of Carroll county pioneer
parish attests its vitality in the past and its present
outlook gives promise of renewed life and some
diocesan importance in the future.
The Rev Vim. T. Snowden. from North Carolina,
succeeded Mr. Buel in lS47, but remained only afew
months, owing to his wifes health In lS4S the
Rev s Chalmers Davis took charge of the parish.
Ills pastorate was less happy than that of Mr. Buell.
he resigned i'll 1851 and moved to New York. The
Rev. T. ]. Wyatt was the beloved rector of Holy
Trinity Parish from the year 1851 to 1862 His charge
was marked by pleasantness and the coming into
hostile to IL He also collected outside the parish
considerable sum and freed s.. Barnabass from
debt The cornerstone of the chapel at sykesville
was laid June llth 1850. At that time the Howard
Cotton Mill" owned by Mr.. James Sykes, was in
operation aud employed over two hundred hands.
MANY OF whom were English by birth and had been
reared in The Anglican Church. For the convent
ence OF these families-who had no way Of attend
inc the old parish church, four miles distant
services were held by Mr. Buel in the basement of
large hotel which was destroyed by the Hood OF
1868 The large ehapel-room at SyEesyille became
oyercrowded, and Miss susanna Warfield, OF Grove
land petitoned the vestry 10 cooperate with her in
building chapel NJ sykesville. Seconded by Jas.
sykes Warner Warfeld and Others, her wishes were
carried out and ST. Barnabas Church was built In
its early days this church was largely attended It
had prosperous Sunday School, the only one at
trained choir. exceptionally good for rural
church, Miss Wartied a lady of fine musical ac-
ouirements being the organist The closing of the
cotton mill in 1857 caused many families connected
with the village church TO move away, which
greatly lesSened the number OF lts eommunlcans
and active supporters.
In the year 1869 the Rev. }. Worral Lnrmour be-
came the rector TOT lev w. months o he was %
was then "a years of age. In many respects the
labors fthis venerable divine were remarkable, but
owing 10 his increasing age and eebleness support
and interest in the parish work declined. By deaths
and removals the churches lost many of their most
active supporters and from disuse and neglect the
church buildings fell into decay-the rector no
longer able to perform parochial work. By a fire.
March 80 1870, Dr. Pgg0tt lost the church register
all his literary labors for ythree years and all his
sermons for iorty-seven years. About that period
the rectory where DIR. Piggoit ended his days was
Geo. ". Holmes, Esq, and Miss susana Wartield.
they now being chief supporters OF the rector and
lime 1st 1885. the Rev. Ernest McGill was called
to be assistant rector. During his short charge of
one year. Mr.. McGill effected great Improvements IN
ST. Barnabas Church. Through his efforts 2 heanti-
full stained glass memorial window was placed n
lie ohaneel Mr. Motiill was called to St. Michaels,
became assistant rector In 1885 and full rector upon
the death of DR.. Piggott in 1887.
Through the generosity of the "Groyeland" family
and the work of the Guild, the old parish church
and ST. Barnabas have been saved from ruin and
made fitting for Divine worship. a beautiful new
reetory has been built entirely by Miss Wared and
Mr. Holmes, and donated TO the parish in August,
1887.
Holy Trinity Parish mas laDOroQ unueI many Qlf-
ficuities, yet wrought much good, Her rural tsm
pies are more then interesting LANDMARKS; saereQ
memories cluster about both churches aud their
tBnihs With zeal and energy on the part of rector
and people the work must grow and prosper. AL
ready the altar fires are rekindled and the churches
have entered upon new era OF usefulness and
righteousness.
Bank Directors Elected.
The national banks of this city elected d.
reetors on Tuesday to serve the ensuing year,
Ms follows: