Evening star., 1942-05-31
Early Churches Of Southern MARYLAND
Lord Thou hast been our refuge
from 0a1n de11Arnfi0 to nnnfh er0

Lord Thou hast been our refuge
from one generation to another"
Naturally, we can take 1t for granted
that the statement quoted Is an ac-
curate one, though few authentic de-
scriptions Of this early city have been
preserved, and even the Calvert tomb
is said to be involved in doubt, though
the vault is believed to have been dis
tinguishable 10 years ago. when 1t was
stated to be about Is feet from the
northwest angle of the church. 1t Is
also related that in 1928 some young
men on a spree broke open the vault,
forced of the lid of the coffin. and re-
vealed the remains of q woman richly
dressed and adorned with trinkets Of
gold. On exposure to the air the body
became a mass Of dust and bones. This
was supposed to have been the body Of
the wife of Lord Baltimore, but the
chances are it was the remains Of Lady
Copley, wife Of the first royal governor.
Elsewhere in the graveyard are many
headpieces bearing dates that have be-
come illegible from age. Some years ago
there was in good state Of preservation
a headpost to mark the grave of child
that died, according to the inscription,
in 1717 The Lionel Copley tomb is much
older. In 1890 the legislature of Mary
land erected a monument to Governor
Leonard Calvert. 1t Is a graceful shaft,
standing near the brow of the cliff. and
displays inscriptions on its four sides.
Church Restored
About five years ago this church un-
derwent a complete restoration, and ac-
cording to the wife of the present
rector, Mrs. E. N. MaConomy, "the walls
we're reinforced by concrete founda-
tions, driven many feet under ground.
The basement walled in by brick and
a new circular heating plant installed,
and huge timbers hoisted in the ceiling
to support the new slate roof"
Anniversary Next Sunday
On Sunday next, June 7, there will
be an important celebration service at
ST. Marys City, commemorating the
25Oth anniversary of the signing of the
Act of 1892, and upon that occasion DR..
Charles F.. Warner, rector Of St. Adams
Church. will deliver the address, and
the choir of Rock Creek Parish will lead
the music.
The celebrations marking the 250th
anniversary of the establishing of the
eight Episcopal parishes in Southern
Maryland and the 150th anniversary
of the conservation of Bishop Thomas
John Claggett will be continued during
the summer and autumn throughout
the diocese, and at the Washington
Cathedral on September 20, when special
emphasis will be given to the Bishop
Claggett anniversary, and this will, no
doubt, be an outstanding event. since
all Episcopalians, particularly of this
part of the country, look up to Bishop
Claggett, not only as a native Of this
county but also as the first Bishop of
Maryland and the first bishop Of the
church consecrated on American soil.
His birthplace was in nearby Prince
Georges County where he was born
October 2. 1742 He was, it is said, "a
man of genial disposition and retiring
nature. He had definite convictions
concerning the church and the sacred
dignity of his Office as well as of its du-
ties.
The bishop entered the life eternal
in August, 1916. and on November l,
1898, the dust of himself and his wife
was reinterred in the Washington Cathe-
dral grounds, and in 1916 transferred
to the crypt of Bethlehem Chapel.
In addition to st. Georges Church,
Valley Lee, the other churches in South
ern Maryland which are expected to
take part in the celebrations include:
Christ Church, Chaptico; Christ Church,
Wayside; st. Pauls, Baden; st. Johns
Broad Creek; Christ Church, La Plata; +;