- Darlington United Methodist Church
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Darlington United Methodist Church
The Methodist Church in historic Darlington, Maryland.
Location: Darlington, Maryland Coordinates: 39°38′25″N 76°12′3″W / 39.64028°N 76.20083°WCoordinates: 39°38′25″N 76°12′3″W / 39.64028°N 76.20083°W Built: 1852 Architect: Unknown Architectural style: classic Governing body: Baltimore Washington Conference Part of: Darlington Historic District (#87001571) 
The outside of the church in June 2010
Darlington United Methodist Church is located in Darlington, Maryland. It is a pre Civil War structure, built in 1852, with white siding, large windows, and many historically original architecture. It is a church within the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. It is also one of two churches part of the Darlington Methodist Charge, the other being Rock Run United Methodist Church in Level, Maryland. There was a third sister church, Thomas Run Church which closed its doors in 1945.
Contents
History
According to historical records from the church, there has been a meeting of Methodists in Darlington to around 1807. In the 1830s, the Board of Trustees were formed and not much long after that, the land on which the current building stands was purchased. At that time, Methodists met across the street at the old Darlington Academy. Once the land had been purchased, a log structure was built and that became the first permanent structure of the Darlington United Methodist Church.[1]
The original structureThe current structure was completed in 1852. Most of the materials used were from the local area. Wood that was sawed came from a saw mill only a few miles down the road. The foundation was built from local field rocks and the roof was of slate. Once completed, there were twelve windows with black shutters; inside were wooden floors, plastered walls, and a balcony was built for the slaves. The property had many trees which were used for the congregation to tie their horses to during worship services. A black iron fence with a front gate stood in the front along Shuresville Road.
In 1892, the church added a vestibule and bell tower. The foundation was of similar field stone and beautifully carved white doors hung to welcome visitors. Steps made of gray stone were added. The new addition was designed to meet the original architecture and two smaller windows on either side with black shutters were included.
A picture of the Church shortly after the completion of the bell tower. This image dates to around the turn of the 20th century.Early in the twentieth century, a painter came to the church and painted a beautiful painting of Christ praying in the garden of Gethsemane with the disciples sleeping in the background. It replaced a cross that stood in its place for many years. It is one of the most unique features of the sanctuary.
The middle of the twentieth century brought a need for an expansion. On May 15, 1966, the new Christian Education building was dedicated. It was of similar shape and architecture but also of modern style. It became the home of three Sunday school rooms, a nursery, a library, an office, and a downstairs social hall for gatherings and events. The roof was of slate just like the sanctuary and the outer walls were of wooden siding painted white.
On Monday morning, December 24, 2001, the Christian education wing suffered a fire. Though, the sanctuary was not harmed but of the smell of smoke, much of the upstairs Sunday school rooms were completely destroyed. Since then, a renovation took place and the building became 100 percent handicapped accessible with a lift added next door to the library.
In addition to the recent renovations and updates, in 2007 the Board of Trustees oversaw the construction of new sidewalks leading from the parking lot to the lower level and with that demolished the old concrete steps to ensure of easier access to the Fellowship Hall. In 2011, new storm windows were added to replace the older ones, which had become brittle, for the use of opening and closing the old windows.
Structure and architecture
The layout of the building is a typical layout found in small country churches. As mentioned previously, the Church sanctuary was built over a hundred years before the addition to the Christian Education center. In 1956, the new wing was added and dedicated on May 15, 1966, Pentecost Sunday, by Bishop John Wesley Lord. After the fire in December 2001, the entire upstairs and portions of the downstairs Christian Education Wing were renovated and modified to make the entire building and property accessible by all.
A closer look at the shutters reveal that in the earlier life of the building, when the Church was not in use, the shutters were closed to protect the windows. Today, the shutters are permamently nailed to the side of the windows and are no longer used except for decoration.
The layout of the Church.Community activities
The Darlington United Methodist Church is very active in the local community. Although Darlington, Maryland is a small and quaint little hamlet, the activities embedded in its life appeal to so many. The biggest attraction of the year is the annual Darlington Apple Festival. Its numbers surge into thousands. It is the biggest fundraiser for the Church. The Church also participates with the local Darlington Lions Club.
Nearby Landmarks
- Conowingo Dam
- Havre de Grace
- Susquehanna River
- Chesapeake Bay
- Deer Creek Friends Meetinghouse
- Darlington, Maryland
Role of Ministers
The list below comes from Church records and was included in the recent 2007 175th Anniversary program.
The Church sitting in the midst of snow after a winter storm in early January 2011.
Visitors view this upon entering the Sanctuary through the Vestibule. This picture was taken before a wedding ceremony in September 2010.- 1926-28 William Biggs Elliot
- 1928-31 Lynn Arbogast
- 1931-34 Raymond E. Manley
- 1934-37 Henry J. Muller
- 1937-44 Charles H. Mead
- 1944-46 Donald T. McIntosh
- 1946-47 Virgil T. Maybray
- 1947-48 Herbert L. D. Doggett
- 1948-49 Chester Steyer
- 1949-51 George W. Pferdeort
- 1951-54 C. Thomas Subock
- 1954-56 Glenn F. Clulow
- 1956-59 John W. Mackey
- 1959-63 Luther W. Starnes
- 1963-66 Edward L. Thigpen
- 1966-70 Paul Lee Grant
- 1970-77 John Olan Price
- 1977-83 William B. Hill
- 1983-88 Raymond Kingsborough
- 1988-94 Darryl C. Zoller
- 1994-95 Alice Westbrook
- 1995-97 Khrista Ferguson
- 1998-99 Finley Gray
- 1999-01 Christopher Charles
- 2001- Gary Sieglein
The Organ
The Organ that is currently sitting in the Sanctuary was installed by R A Daffer, & Son, in May 2004. It is an electronic, pipe organ-simulated instrument. In November 2010, two Walker speakers were installed by the same company.
The Stop List There are 47 speaking stops over two 61-note manuals (keyboards) and a 32-note pedalboard. ( http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/The_Organ_of_Darlington_United_Methodist_Church.pdf)
The Organ console.The Great Manual 8’ Principal,8’ Diapason, 8’ Rohrflöte, 8’ Gemshorn, 8’ Flute Celeste II, 8’ Erzähler Celeste II, 4’ Octave, 4’ Principal, 4’ Spitzflöte, 4’ Unda Maris II, 2’ Super Octave, 2’ Waldflöte, 1 1/3’ Quintflöte, IV Forniture, 8’ Cromorne, 8’ Trompete, 8’ Royal Trumpet, Chimes, Tremulant, Swell to Great
The Swell Manual 16’ Bourdon Doux, 8’ Geigen Principal, 8’ Viole, 8’ Viole Celeste II, 8’ Bourdon, 4’ Prestant, 4’ Flauto Traverso, 2 2/3’ Nazard, 2’ Flûte à Bec, 1 3/5’ Tierce, IV Plein Jesu, 16’ Basson, 16’ Fagot, 8’ Trompette, 8’ Royal Trumpet (Gt), 8’ Hautbois, Tremulant, Swell Unison Off
The Pedal 32’ Contre Violone, 16’ Principal, 16’ Violone, 16’ Subbass, 16’ Bordun, 16’ Bourdon Doux (Sw), 8’ Octave, 8’ Gedackt, 4’ Choralbass, 4’ Nachthorn, IV Mixture, 16’ Posaune, 16’ Basson, 8’ Trompete, 4’ Rohrshalmei, Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal
References
- ^ Darlington United Methodist Church (2007) 175th Anniversary.
- Darlington United Methodist Church
- "Maryland Historical Trust". Darlington Methodist Church. Maryland Historical Trust. 02-1969.
- Jones, F. C. (1947). "The Village of Darlington"
- Farrington, H. W. (1930). "Kilts to Togs: Orphan Adventures" New York. The MacMillan Co.
External links
- The Darlington Apple Festival http://darlingtonapplefest.org/index.htm
- The Darlington Lions Club http://darlingtonmd.lionwap.org/
- The Baltimore Washington Conference http://www.bwcumc.org/church/2375
- Darlington United Methodist Church website http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/
http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/Map_of_Darlington_United_Methodist_Church.pdf
- Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties http://www.mdihp.net/dsp_county.cfm?search=county&criteria1=M&criteria2=HA&criteria3=&id=13663&viewer=true
Categories:- Historic district contributing properties
- Religious buildings completed in 1852
- 19th-century Methodist church buildings
- Churches in Harford County, Maryland
- United Methodist churches in Maryland
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