Evening Star Newspaper, July 5, 1931, Page 58

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, b. C, JULY S, 191 e Two Colonial Churches of Maryland Ancient Structures and Burial Places 0 ffi)rO/JporI:bzifivs for Study of Early American Families. Visits to Christ Chuich, Accokeck, and Saint fohn's, Broad Creck. BY JOHN CLAGETT PROCTOR. LD churches and old churchyards are peculiarly interesting to the lover of the historic, who will even seck the opportunity, and. will think his time well spent, just for a brief sojourn within the walls of some ancient house of worship. Especially will he feel himself repaid if he can but visit them alone—when all is silent within, save perhaps the sound of his own hollow voice. Maybe to stand uhere in pen- sive thought' and dieam of the things thate have transpired within its walis—the bap- tisms, the weddings and the funerals that have taken place there, and in vich it has played its silent but nevertheless impuitant part; perchance to sit in the scat whe:e some great American has sat and worshiped and prayed for divine forgiveness for his sins or for help to throw off the yoke of oppression. Indeed, the attraction will be intensified if ¢he church is situated in a spot remote from a large seltlement and where everything s stll rural and about as it was a century or more ago, and where one. without forcing his imagination, can almost feel he sees the grand equipages of the rich planters of our own Southiand lined up in the churchyard, being carefully looked after by the faithful servants of their owners, while the more humble.teams of the poor are securely tied to some nearby tree. Maybe he will see the rows of sheds which were sometimes provided for the teams of horses or oxen, erected to protect them from the elements in bad weather or from the sun and heat during the Summer months, for the real Christian in days gone by—as he is today and always will be—was kind and merciful to his beasts of burden and to all other dumb animals over which Le had control. No less attractive will the thoughtful visitor find the little God's acre outside the church, as he reads the tombstone inscriptions, hoping perhaps to find there recorded the name of some distinguished citizen who may have ren- dered a lasting service to his community or to bis country and whose name might be some- where recorded on America’s roll of honor by public acclaim. The old families, too, and the early family names have for the historian a peculiar fasci- nation, for here he is sometimes rewarded in being able to restore some missing line to a noted family tree, or to bring to light the last resting place of some mortal who in life was worthy of a place in history. These, indeed, are only some of the things which may induce the delver into the past to visit old churches and tombs, in search of informa- tion which may prove of the greatest value in linking the past with the present. T was in this frame of mind that the writer ® short while ago drove down ta Christ Church, Accokeek, Md. For months ago he had promised Mrs. Patrick Henry-Bealle, one of . the church's devout members, who lives nearby, that he would do so. And, like all such pilgrimages he makes, he came away feeling well repaid for the visit and the trip. It was a good road nearly all the way from ‘Washington, except that as you approach Ac- cokeek it is crowned too much for fast driving in wet weather. It is—or seems to be—the same old road that we used to ride over on our way to Marshall Hall in the good old days of bicycling, except of course that it is ever s0 much better than it was then. The old church‘is not far from the main road, which is reached by way of Anacostia and straight ahead over Asylum Hill to near Piscataway, which is due east of Fort Wash- ington. Here the road from Clinton to Chica- muxen is tapped, and Christ Protestant Epis- copal Church, Accokeek, is not far distant. It is in Prince Georges County and about half a mile west of the State road. There is some conflict regarding the date of its con- struction, but the writer believes the most authentic date to be 1745, and the builder to bave been Stephen Chandler. However, it was not consecrated until April 25, 1831, when that ceremony was performed by Bishop Stone, Rev. Mathias Harris at that time being its rector. On December 28, 1855, this old church was partly destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt In 1857, the old walls being used, only a few courses of new brickwork being added toward the roof. It was again consecrated June 18, 1867, by Bishop Wittingham. Though erected 185 years ago, yet the walls of Christ Church seem to be as sound as Christ Protestant Episcopal Church, A ccokeek, Prince Georges County, Md. when first erected and are in much better condition than the walls of a small rear addi- tion, apparently erected only a few decades ago. The interior is badly in need of repair. However, no doubt the small congregation which communes here is doing the best it can to keep things in order and to maintain the prestige and glory of the church. HRIST CHURCH was originally a part of King George Parish, from which it was separated in 1823 and became the parish church of St. John's Parish, the erection of which took place, accomiing to journals of the Diocese of Maryland, in 1869. ‘The chapel at Pomonkey, over the border, in Charles County, is under its control. From 1833 to the present time some of those who have administered to the religious welfare of the members of this church are: Rev. S. R. Hanson, who was rector of the parish from the date mentioned to 1835, being succeeded by Rev. Sumon Wilmer, who in turn was followed by Rev. H. Major, in 1839. Rev. Alexander M. Marbury, D. D, became the rector in 1841 and continued as such until George's Parish and by the present recior, Rev. H. Priestly Brock, who had considerable experience with the British forces on both the western and eastern fronts during the World War. He was born in Cheshire, England, in 1893, educated at the University of Cambridge and holds the degree of bachelor of arte and licen- tiate of theology. In 1914 he was ordained by the Lord Bishop of Chester, and during the war that followed his services were of such a meritorious character that he was twice decorated for bravery. Subsequently, he served as a missionary from the Church of Englan8 in the Hudson Bay country, 1920 to 1927, with the exception of one year. wvhlich was spent in the United States. He is popular with his little congregation, and being still qQuite a young man has a big field of useful- ness before him. ES, the bricks of which this church is con- structed came from England; at least that is what the writer was told. But he is not going to pass this fable on to you as true, because there are ample reasons why it is not, and because he has told you before that only Seins Johw's Church, Brosd Creek, Md., buils in 1723, 1851, when he resigned, but he left behind him the rectory which was built in 1844-5, within the years of his service. Rev. J. Newton Walson was rector from 1858 to 1855 and was succeeded by Rev. James Chipchase, during whose ministry the church was burned. Rev. John Towles followed Mr. Chipchase in 1867 and remained at the church until 1874, when he resigned and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Ritter. Mr. Towles must have liked the little church, for in 1877 we find him returning there as rector and remaining until his death, in 1886. . Rev. A. G. Hundley took up the duties In 1886 and conducted serv- ices there until he passed away four years later, when he was followed, in 1891, by Rev. Theophilus Smoot, who remained 10 years, when he was succeeded as rector by Rev. Georgt C. Graham, who resigned in 1904. The next rector was Rev. M. Boyer Stewart, who served from 1905 to 1907, being followed by Rev. Charles J. Curtis, in 1908, and who remained there for 14 years, or until 1922, Rev. Y. N. Lawrence was called in 1923 and resigned in 1925, since when the services have been eonducted by Rev. Mr. Parkman- of In- dian Head, Md.; Mr. Hcigham of King a very, very few bricks were ever brought to this country from abroad, and he would not mislead you now, since he has tried to keep you correctly informed in the past. But they are laid in Flemish bond. as any one can see, and the walls look their venerable age and were undoubtedly built at the time stated. In the west end of the church there is a beautiful memorial window erected through Jocal subscription to the memory of Rev. Chailes J. Curtis and Margaret I. Curtis, and a part of the service plate of distinet historic value is a silver chalice said to have been given tq Christ Church by_Queen Anne of England. But here again creeps in a mistake, since this noted monarch died in 1714, or 31 years before the church was built, and as it is quite likely that no earlier church occupled this site it must have been given by some later British sovereign, for it really has all the appearance of being an antique piece. The Bible used is a memorial to Alexander Y. Hundley, who .died June 18, 1891, and a beautiful memorial cross was given in memory of the late Mrs. Anna E. Underwood, widow of Thomas M. Underwood, & prominent poli- tician of Prince Georges County during his day. This memorial was a gift from the chil- dren of Mrs. Underwood. most of whom are active members of the Episcopal Church. HE processional cross was presented by Rear Admiral John Lowe, U. €. N.. and his wife, Josephine, who frequently attended this church when visiting their d.ughter, Mrs. Henry G. Ferguson, who resides on a beautiful estate within view of Mount V:irnon on the opposite shore. The rear admiral, who has passed away since the presentation was made, was among the three-month troops called for by Lincoln at the beginning of the Civil War. His ap- pointment to the Navy was due to the interest of Representative-8. S. Cox (popularly called Sunset Cox), whose grand ncphew, Capt. Theo- dore S. Cox, the writer had the pleasure of seeing arried recently in Old St. John's om Sixteenth street. 2 Admiral Lowe distinguished himself by find- ing the Greely party at Cape Sabine. -for which he was honored by being made an hon- orary member of the New York American Yacht Club., When not on sea duty he made his home in Washington from 1862. Miss Edith B. Lowe, another daughter of the admiral, donated to the church the candelabra. The church has a splendid working altar guild, organized since the present rector entered upon his duties there, Miss Eleanor Manning being president, Mrs. William R. Dyer, treas- urer, and Mrs. Leo Gosnell, secretary. The organist at St. John's—the chapel at Pomonkey —Mrs. Nellle C. Jenkins, has served in this position for over 50 years, and is the first woman on the vestry from the chapel, the other. present members being Roger Q. Manning, Henry A. Xander, George Marshall, Clarence Peorce, John H. Clagett, sr.: .L.oyd Hulbert, Mrs. Nellie Jenkins and Mrs. P. Henry Bealle, the last two being the first women elected in this parish on the vestry, and the last named being the wife of Patrick Hen'y Bealle, a great~ great-grandson of the famous Patrick Henry of Revolutionary fame. The superintendent of the Sunday School 18 Roger Manning, who is ably assisted by Mrs, Bealle, who acts as treasurer; Mrs, Archie Davis, Mrs. George Marshall and Mrs. Juliana Manning, who has charge of the class for col- ored persons, for which several pews in the rear of the church are reserved. HE old church cemetery is interesting, but would be far more so if the records of early burials existed, but the writer understands these were destroyed some years ago when a building near the church in which they were pla:d for safe keeping was destroyed. The result is that the only graves that can be identified are those over which are markers. One of the oldest stones tells us that William R. Webster, aged 7 years, departed this life November 28, 1775, and nearby probably Mes the lad's father, John Webster, who died in 1783 at the age of 49. Joanna C. Cox died at the same age November 14, 1797. A flat stone denotes the resting place of William Lyles, who was murdered at his home just across the road in 1850 by his slaves, who believed him pos- sessed of money which they found he did not have—but then it was too late to bring him back. R. F. Magee was buried here in 1880, and throughout d€he cemetery, which is practically filled, are such names as Alden, Adams, Bealle, Baldwin, Chipchase, Chesley, Clagett, Edelen, Gregory, Hardy, Hurtt, Jones, Lederer, Man- ning, King, Hostettit, Marshall, Smith, Martin, Towles, Pickerel, “Underwood, Walson, Young, Hundley, Moxley, Ward, Wyville, Thompson, Sutton, Warder and others. ‘There are wooden crosses bearing only initials and which might mark the graves of Civil War veterans, but such is only conjecture. The wood in these is fast decayving and in a few vears identification Will be impossible. A few .lots in the old part of the cemetery are stil