Christ Church (Stevensville, Maryland) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Christ Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Christ Church, seen after its restoration
Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	121 E. Main Street (MD 835), Stevensville, Maryland
Area	0 acres (0 ha)
Built	1880 (1880)
Architect	Smith, John
Architectural style	Queen Anne
NRHP reference No.	79003268
Added to NRHP	July 24, 1979

Christ Church is the name for two things. It's an Episcopal church group (called a parish) that is now in Matapeake, Maryland. It also refers to an old church building in Stevensville, Maryland. This historic building was used by the Christ Church parish from 1880 to 1995. Today, the old building is a Lutheran church. Christ Church was one of the first 30 Anglican church groups in the area that became Maryland.

A Long History: Christ Church's Journey

The Christ Episcopal Church on Kent Island is known as the oldest Christian church group in Maryland. It was started in 1632 by Reverend Richard James. This was just one year after Kent Island was founded by William Claiborne. It was also two years before the first settlers arrived at St. Clement's Island.

Where the Church Buildings Were Located

The church group has used at least six different buildings over its long history.

• The very first church was at Kent Fort.
• In 1652, the church moved to Broad Creek. New buildings were built there in 1712 and again in 1826.
• The church moved to Stevensville in 1880. This happened because more people were living and working in Stevensville than in Broad Creek.
• In 1995, the church moved to its current spot in Matapeake. This move was needed because the church group had grown and needed a bigger building.

Out of all six buildings, only the one built in 1880 and the one built in 1995 are still standing today. The 1880 building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is a special place that is important to history.

Christ Church Today

Today, Christ Church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton. They also own and run Camp Wright. This is a summer camp in Matapeake. It serves as the main camp for the diocese. The historic 1880 building is now the main church for the Anglo-Lutheran Catholic Church.

Gallery

• 

  Side view of the church, taken in 2007 before its restoration

• 

  The church, seen in 2007 before its restoration

• 

  Rectory of the church

See also

• List of the oldest churches in the United States § Oldest Continuous Church Congregations