St. Thomas' Church (Upper Marlboro, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Thomas' Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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St. Thomas' Church - Front View, December 2008
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14300 St. Thomas Church Rd., near Upper Marlboro, Maryland |
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| Area | 18.8 acres (7.6 ha) |
| Built | 1742 |
| Built by | Page, Daniel |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001504 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 2000 |
St. Thomas' Church is an old and beautiful Episcopal church building. It is located in a quiet, rural area near Croom, in Prince George's County, Maryland. This church is one of the oldest Episcopal churches in Southern Maryland. It is part of the St. Thomas parish, which also includes three other churches: the Church of the Atonement, the Chapel of the Incarnation, and St. Simon's Mission.
The church building, along with its nearby cemetery, St. Simon's Mission, and St. Simon's Cemetery, forms an important historical area. This area is called the St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of St. Thomas' Church
The first St. Thomas' Church building was finished on December 25, 1745. People sometimes called it "Page's Chapel." This was because Daniel Page, who owned the land, was hired to build it.
Changes and Growth Over Time
In 1850, St. Thomas' Church became its own parish. This meant it had its own official church area. Around this time, the church was updated and made bigger. These changes followed a style called Gothic Revival. A famous architect from New York City, John W. Priest, helped with these designs.
Later, in 1888, a bell tower was added to the front of the church. This tower was built to honor Bishop Thomas John Claggett. He was the very first Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church to be made a bishop in the United States.
In 1954, the church was restored. Workers tried to make it look like the original 1740s building. However, they kept the Gothic Revival parts that John W. Priest had added.
Important People and the Cemetery
The church is surrounded by a cemetery. Many important people and old families from the county are buried there. In 1907, a fence and special iron gates with Gothic designs were put up around the cemetery.
One of the people who helped start and support St. Thomas' Church was Benedict Swingate Calvert (1730-1788). He was a planter and politician in Maryland. He was the son of Charles Calvert, who was a governor of Maryland.
Benedict Swingate Calvert became very wealthy. He held important jobs in the colony. However, during the American Revolution, he lost his political power. He is buried under the front part of the church. His wife, Elizabeth Calvert, and his daughter, Eleanor Calvert, are also buried there.
In 2000, St. Thomas' Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
Gallery
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St. Thomas' Church - Side View, December 2008
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St. Thomas' Church - Claggett Memorial, December 2008
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St. Thomas' Church - Historic Marker, December 2008
