ChurchHistory

      The year of 1857 was a time of upheavel in The United States of America. Questions over states rights versus the powers of the Federal government were in hot debate. The debate over slavery, both from an economic and moral perspective threatened to divide the nation. To many there seemed to be a lowering of moral standards sweeping the land. In wilderness, for repentance and a return to spiritual mortality. It was during this time that revival spread through our great country. Revival was reaching from state to state, country to country. Revival was confronting the evils of the day, even in a town as small as Churchville, Maryland. The building of this church was the result of revival services held in a tent in the grove where the church now stands. The revival service was conducted by the Reverends William Kinsey and John B. Mann.

      As a result of the local revival services and the decire of the people that attended to see a long-lasting change take place, a congregation was formed - a church was born. Men and women throughout the Churchville community was covenanted with each other to help heal the wounds of a weakening society, to right the wrongs of the day. They began to worship together with the understanding that it was the power of the Holy Ghost moving in their midst that would ultimately reclaim the Creation for the Creator.

     The lot on which the church stands was donated by the daughters of Colonel William Smith in honor of their father. Col. Smith fought in the War of 1812. The first building was 38' by 28' and a 14' chamber was erected by William and Charles James, contractors, in the year 1858. The pastor at the time was Rev. Jonathan Monroe.

     The church was first named Glenwood Chapel and was dedicated July 4, 1858, by Bishop L. L. Hamlin of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with the appropriate text: "He loveth our Nation, and He hath built us a Synagogue," Luke 7:5. The Methodist Episcopal Church had a very clear set of rules and rubrics. Preachers were given their appointments by bishops, and they had to go where they were sent whether they liked it or not. Laity were not represented in the annual or general conferences where church policies were decided.

     The first Trustees of Glenwood Chapel were: J. M. Hutton, William James, Nicholas Baker, Charles H. James, and John Keithley.

      The church, when completed, cost $800.00. In January 1860 the name of the church was changed from Glenwood Chapel to Smith's Chapel, and was incorporated according to the laws of the State of Maryland, with the following pastor in charge and Board of Trustees: Spensor Vinton, Pastor, Trustees - John Keithley, Nicholas Baker, Edward Jeremiah Aler, Jerrard Mitchell, Charles Henry James, Samuel Smith - a self - perpetuating board.

     Records dated 1894 indicate that from at least 1877 Smith's Chapel
was part of the East Harford Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The other churches were: Abington, Bush, Calvary, Garrettson's, Aberdeen, Rock Run, Gunpowder, and Magnolia.

     An addition of 28' by 12' was made in the year 1870 at a cost of $500.00. On June 22, 1879. The Trustees purchased one acre of ground from Miss Jane Smith, adjoining the church lot, for a cemetary, at a cost of $150.00. Rev William R. Gwynn was the pastor at the time.