Thomas Run Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thomas Run Church
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Watters Meeting House in 2011
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northeast of Bel Air off Maryland Route 136, near Bel Air, Maryland |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001466 |
| Added to NRHP | January 3, 1978 |
Thomas Run Church, also known as Watters Meeting House, is a historic Methodist church located in Bel Air, Maryland, in Harford County, Maryland. It is a one-story building made of rough stone. The roof is covered with slate. This church was one of the first places Methodists used for worship in colonial America.
Contents
History of the Church
Early Beginnings
The story of Thomas Run Church began with Henry Watters. He was born near the church's current location in 1751. In 1771, Henry became a Methodist. He then returned home to start a church. He was known as one of the first American "itinerant" preachers. This means he traveled around to preach.
Around that time, a log building was built on the site. It was called the "Watters Meeting House." Sadly, this log building was later destroyed by a fire. The stone church you see today was built around 1840. It stands on the exact spot where the old log building once was. This stone church served the Methodist community for many years.
Growth and Challenges
As the church grew, it became important to the community. Daniel Ruff, a "circuit rider", lived there. A circuit rider was a preacher who traveled from place to place. They would visit different churches in a specific area.
Records show that Thomas Run Church was part of the Darlington Methodist Charge. This group also included Darlington United Methodist Church and Rock Run United Methodist Church. In August 1932, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary. This celebration was shared with the other churches and lasted for a couple of weeks.
In 1931, Reverend Raymond E. Manley began serving the charge. He wrote about how difficult it was to reach Thomas Run Church. The road leading to it was not well-maintained. He noted that one family kept the church going. They regularly paid their share to support it.
Closing and Reopening
The church closed its doors in 1945. However, activities still took place there for many years. For example, in 1947, youth groups from all three churches met there for a whole weekend.
In March 1996, a fire caused by arson completely destroyed the inside of the building. Luckily, old photos helped rebuild the interior. It was made to look as close to the original as possible. The church was rededicated in October 2000.
Today, services are held twice a year. One service is on the first Sunday of June. The other is on the first Sunday of October.
Ownership and Preservation
In 1963, Blanche and Lester Pyle bought the church. They bought it from the Methodist Conference. Now, the church is managed by the Thomas Run Foundation, Inc. This foundation helps to preserve the historic building.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This listing helps protect important historical sites.
Gallery
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A beautiful view from behind
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A sepia tone picture of the inside
