All Hallows Church (South River, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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All Hallows' Church
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All Hallows' Church, July 2009
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Davidsonville, Maryland |
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| Built | 1710 |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000060 |
| Added to NRHP | May 15, 1969 |
All Hallows Church, also known as The Brick Church, is a very old and important church in Edgewater, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It's a historic building that has been around for a long time. Records show that the church community, called a parish, started way back in 1682. This was even before a law was passed in 1692 that created many official church areas, or parishes, in Maryland.
The church building itself is made of brick and has a special kind of roof called a hip roof. It was built around 1710 to be the main church for the All Hallows' or South River Parish. Today, this is known as All Hallows Parish, South River.
Contents
A Church with a Long History
The church building has gone through several changes over the years. In 1727, a fire badly damaged the inside of the church. It was then updated in 1825 and again in 1885. After another fire in 1940, the church was carefully rebuilt to look just like it did in 1710. This means when you visit today, you can see how it looked almost 300 years ago!
The Ancient Cemetery
Around the church, there is an old cemetery shaded by large oak trees. Many local families have their graves here. One important person buried there is Colonel William Burgess (1622–1686). He was a leader in the Maryland government and gave 100 acres of his land to help start a town called Londontowne. Another notable family is the Gassaways. The church itself was built on land that belonged to Captain Thomas Gassaway (1683–1739), who was also an important local leader.
The Church Bell
In the church's tower, there is a rustic bell. This bell is also very old, with the date 1727 marked on it. Imagine how many times that bell has rung over the centuries!
A Recognized Landmark
Because of its long history and importance, All Hallows' Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. This list helps protect important historical sites across the United States.
All Hallows Parish Today
Besides the main Brick Church, the parish also has another smaller church, called a chapel-of-ease. This chapel is located in Davidsonville. It was built between 1860 and 1865 because the main Brick Church was about 5 miles (8 kilometers) away, which was a long distance for people to travel back then. The home for the church's leader, called the rectory, is right across the street from the chapel.
All Hallows Parish, South River, is still an active church community today. It is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. The current leader of the church is Reverend Jeffrey C. Hual.
Gallery
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Bell Tower at All Hallow's Brick Church, Completed in Spring 2006 by C. R. Bennett Construction, September 2009
