Darlington United Methodist Church
Encyclopedia
Darlington United Methodist Church is located in Darlington, Maryland
. It is a pre Civil War
structure, built in 1852, with white siding, large windows, and many historically original architecture. It is a church within the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church
. It is also one of two churches part of the Darlington Methodist Charge, the other being Rock Run United Methodist Church
in Level, Maryland. There was a third sister church, Thomas Run Church
which closed its doors in 1945.
The current structure was completed in 1852. Most of the materials used were from the local area. Wood that was sawed came from a saw mill only a few miles down the road. The foundation was built from local field rocks and the roof was of slate. Once completed, there were twelve windows with black shutters; inside were wooden floors, plastered walls, and a balcony was built for the slaves. The property had many trees which were used for the congregation to tie their horses to during worship services. A black iron fence with a front gate stood in the front along Shuresville Road.
In 1892, the church added a vestibule
and bell tower
. The foundation was of similar field stone and beautifully carved white doors hung to welcome visitors. Steps made of gray stone were added. The new addition was designed to meet the original architecture and two smaller windows on either side with black shutters were included.
Early in the twentieth century, a painter came to the church and painted a beautiful painting of Christ praying in the garden of Gethsemane
with the disciples sleeping in the background. It replaced a cross that stood in its place for many years. It is one of the most unique features of the sanctuary.
The middle of the twentieth century brought a need for an expansion. On May 15, 1966, the new Christian
Education building was dedicated. It was of similar shape and architecture but also of modern style. It became the home of three Sunday
school rooms, a nursery, a library, an office, and a downstairs social hall for gatherings and events. The roof was of slate just like the sanctuary and the outer walls were of wooden siding painted white.
On Monday morning, December 24, 2001, the Christian education wing suffered a fire. Though, the sanctuary was not harmed but of the smell of smoke, much of the upstairs Sunday school rooms were completely destroyed. Since then, a renovation took place and the building became 100 percent handicapped accessible with a lift added next door to the library.
In addition to the recent renovations and updates, in 2007 the Board of Trustees oversaw the construction of new sidewalks leading from the parking lot to the lower level and with that demolished the old concrete steps to ensure of easier access to the Fellowship Hall. In 2011, new storm windows were added to replace the older ones, which had become brittle, for the use of opening and closing the old windows.
Sunday, by Bishop John Wesley Lord
. After the fire in December 2001, the entire upstairs and portions of the downstairs Christian Education Wing were renovated and modified to make the entire building and property accessible by all.
A closer look at the shutters reveal that in the earlier life of the building, when the Church was not in use, the shutters were closed to protect the windows. Today, the shutters are permamently nailed to the side of the windows and are no longer used except for decoration.
is a small and quaint little hamlet, the activities embedded in its life appeal to so many. The biggest attraction of the year is the annual Darlington Apple Festival. Its numbers surge into thousands. It is the biggest fundraiser for the Church. The Church also participates with the local Darlington Lions Club.
that is currently sitting in the Sanctuary
was installed by R A Daffer, & Son, in May 2004. It is an electronic, pipe organ-simulated instrument. In November 2010, two Walker speakers were installed by the same company.
The Stop List
There are 47 speaking stops over two 61-note manual
s (keyboards) and a 32-note pedalboard. ( http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/The_Organ_of_Darlington_United_Methodist_Church.pdf)
The Great Manual
8’ Principal,8’ Diapason, 8’ Rohrflöte, 8’ Gemshorn, 8’ Flute Celeste II, 8’ Erzähler Celeste II, 4’ Octave, 4’ Principal, 4’ Spitzflöte, 4’ Unda Maris II, 2’ Super Octave, 2’ Waldflöte, 1 1/3’ Quintflöte, IV Forniture, 8’ Cromorne, 8’ Trompete, 8’ Royal Trumpet, Chimes, Tremulant, Swell to Great
The Swell Manual
16’ Bourdon Doux, 8’ Geigen Principal, 8’ Viole, 8’ Viole Celeste II, 8’ Bourdon, 4’ Prestant, 4’ Flauto Traverso, 2 2/3’ Nazard, 2’ Flûte à Bec, 1 3/5’ Tierce, IV Plein Jesu, 16’ Basson, 16’ Fagot, 8’ Trompette, 8’ Royal Trumpet (Gt), 8’ Hautbois, Tremulant, Swell Unison Off
The Pedal
32’ Contre Violone, 16’ Principal, 16’ Violone, 16’ Subbass, 16’ Bordun, 16’ Bourdon Doux (Sw), 8’ Octave, 8’ Gedackt, 4’ Choralbass, 4’ Nachthorn, IV Mixture, 16’ Posaune, 16’ Basson, 8’ Trompete, 4’ Rohrshalmei, Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal
http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/Map_of_Darlington_United_Methodist_Church.pdf
Darlington, Maryland
Darlington is an unincorporated village in northeastern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1987 with approximately 100 contributing properties .-Community:Local children attend the Darlington Elementary...
. It is a pre Civil War
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
structure, built in 1852, with white siding, large windows, and many historically original architecture. It is a church within the Baltimore Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. It is also one of two churches part of the Darlington Methodist Charge, the other being Rock Run United Methodist Church
Rock Run United Methodist Church
Rock Run United Methodist Church is a one story building, with stone walls and a slate-covered gable roof, located on a 1.24 acre plot of land at the corner of Craig's Corner Road and Rock Run Road near Level, Maryland and approximately six miles south of Darlington, Maryland...
in Level, Maryland. There was a third sister church, Thomas Run Church
Thomas Run Church
Thomas Run Church, also known as Watters Meeting House, is a historic Methodist church located at Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. It is a one-story, rubble stone, three-bay church with a slate-covered gabled roof...
which closed its doors in 1945.
History
According to historical records from the church, there has been a meeting of Methodists in Darlington to around 1807. In the 1830s, the Board of Trustees were formed and not much long after that, the land on which the current building stands was purchased. At that time, Methodists met across the street at the old Darlington Academy. Once the land had been purchased, a log structure was built and that became the first permanent structure of the Darlington United Methodist Church.The current structure was completed in 1852. Most of the materials used were from the local area. Wood that was sawed came from a saw mill only a few miles down the road. The foundation was built from local field rocks and the roof was of slate. Once completed, there were twelve windows with black shutters; inside were wooden floors, plastered walls, and a balcony was built for the slaves. The property had many trees which were used for the congregation to tie their horses to during worship services. A black iron fence with a front gate stood in the front along Shuresville Road.
In 1892, the church added a vestibule
Vestibule (architecture)
A vestibule is a lobby, entrance hall, or passage between the entrance and the interior of a building.The same term can apply to structures in modern or ancient roman architecture. In modern architecture vestibule typically refers to a small room or hall between an entrance and the interior of...
and bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
. The foundation was of similar field stone and beautifully carved white doors hung to welcome visitors. Steps made of gray stone were added. The new addition was designed to meet the original architecture and two smaller windows on either side with black shutters were included.
Early in the twentieth century, a painter came to the church and painted a beautiful painting of Christ praying in the garden of Gethsemane
Gethsemane
Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem most famous as the place where, according to Biblical texts, Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion.- Etymology :...
with the disciples sleeping in the background. It replaced a cross that stood in its place for many years. It is one of the most unique features of the sanctuary.
The middle of the twentieth century brought a need for an expansion. On May 15, 1966, the new Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Education building was dedicated. It was of similar shape and architecture but also of modern style. It became the home of three Sunday
Sunday
Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. For most Christians, Sunday is observed as a day for worship of God and rest, due to the belief that it is Lord's Day, the day of Christ's resurrection....
school rooms, a nursery, a library, an office, and a downstairs social hall for gatherings and events. The roof was of slate just like the sanctuary and the outer walls were of wooden siding painted white.
On Monday morning, December 24, 2001, the Christian education wing suffered a fire. Though, the sanctuary was not harmed but of the smell of smoke, much of the upstairs Sunday school rooms were completely destroyed. Since then, a renovation took place and the building became 100 percent handicapped accessible with a lift added next door to the library.
In addition to the recent renovations and updates, in 2007 the Board of Trustees oversaw the construction of new sidewalks leading from the parking lot to the lower level and with that demolished the old concrete steps to ensure of easier access to the Fellowship Hall. In 2011, new storm windows were added to replace the older ones, which had become brittle, for the use of opening and closing the old windows.
Structure and architecture
The layout of the building is a typical layout found in small country churches. As mentioned previously, the Church sanctuary was built over a hundred years before the addition to the Christian Education center. In 1956, the new wing was added and dedicated on May 15, 1966, PentecostPentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
Sunday, by Bishop John Wesley Lord
John Wesley Lord
John Wesley Lord was an American Bishop of The Methodist Church, elected in 1948. Lord was active in the African-American Civil Rights Movement and pushed for the racial integration of the Methodist Church, and was a Vice President of the National Council of Churches.-Early life:John was born 23...
. After the fire in December 2001, the entire upstairs and portions of the downstairs Christian Education Wing were renovated and modified to make the entire building and property accessible by all.
A closer look at the shutters reveal that in the earlier life of the building, when the Church was not in use, the shutters were closed to protect the windows. Today, the shutters are permamently nailed to the side of the windows and are no longer used except for decoration.
Community activities
The Darlington United Methodist Church is very active in the local community. Although Darlington, MarylandDarlington, Maryland
Darlington is an unincorporated village in northeastern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1987 with approximately 100 contributing properties .-Community:Local children attend the Darlington Elementary...
is a small and quaint little hamlet, the activities embedded in its life appeal to so many. The biggest attraction of the year is the annual Darlington Apple Festival. Its numbers surge into thousands. It is the biggest fundraiser for the Church. The Church also participates with the local Darlington Lions Club.
Nearby Landmarks
- Conowingo DamConowingo DamThe Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the Lower Susquehanna River. The dam, one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the US, is classified as a medium height, masonry gravity type dam...
- Havre de Grace
- Susquehanna RiverSusquehanna RiverThe Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
- Chesapeake BayChesapeake BayThe Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
- Deer Creek Friends MeetinghouseDeer Creek Friends MeetinghouseDeer Creek Friends Meetinghouse is a historic Friends meeting house located at Darlington, Harford County, Maryland. It is a one-story fieldstone structure, six bays long on the south, four bays on the north, and three bays wide. It was constructed in 1784 to replace a building of 1737 and...
- Darlington, MarylandDarlington, MarylandDarlington is an unincorporated village in northeastern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1987 with approximately 100 contributing properties .-Community:Local children attend the Darlington Elementary...
Role of Ministers
The list below comes from Church records and was included in the recent 2007 175th Anniversary program.- 1926-28 William Biggs Elliot
- 1928-31 Lynn Arbogast
- 1931-34 Raymond E. Manley
- 1934-37 Henry J. Muller
- 1937-44 Charles H. Mead
- 1944-46 Donald T. McIntosh
- 1946-47 Virgil T. Maybray
- 1947-48 Herbert L. D. Doggett
- 1948-49 Chester Steyer
- 1949-51 George W. Pferdeort
- 1951-54 C. Thomas Subock
- 1954-56 Glenn F. Clulow
- 1956-59 John W. Mackey
- 1959-63 Luther W. Starnes
- 1963-66 Edward L. Thigpen
- 1966-70 Paul Lee Grant
- 1970-77 John Olan Price
- 1977-83 William B. Hill
- 1983-88 Raymond Kingsborough
- 1988-94 Darryl C. Zoller
- 1994-95 Alice Westbrook
- 1995-97 Khrista Ferguson
- 1998-99 Finley Gray
- 1999-01 Christopher Charles
- 2001- Gary Sieglein
The Organ
The OrganOrgan (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
that is currently sitting in the Sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
was installed by R A Daffer, & Son, in May 2004. It is an electronic, pipe organ-simulated instrument. In November 2010, two Walker speakers were installed by the same company.
The Stop List
There are 47 speaking stops over two 61-note manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
s (keyboards) and a 32-note pedalboard. ( http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/The_Organ_of_Darlington_United_Methodist_Church.pdf)
The Great Manual
8’ Principal,8’ Diapason, 8’ Rohrflöte, 8’ Gemshorn, 8’ Flute Celeste II, 8’ Erzähler Celeste II, 4’ Octave, 4’ Principal, 4’ Spitzflöte, 4’ Unda Maris II, 2’ Super Octave, 2’ Waldflöte, 1 1/3’ Quintflöte, IV Forniture, 8’ Cromorne, 8’ Trompete, 8’ Royal Trumpet, Chimes, Tremulant, Swell to Great
The Swell Manual
16’ Bourdon Doux, 8’ Geigen Principal, 8’ Viole, 8’ Viole Celeste II, 8’ Bourdon, 4’ Prestant, 4’ Flauto Traverso, 2 2/3’ Nazard, 2’ Flûte à Bec, 1 3/5’ Tierce, IV Plein Jesu, 16’ Basson, 16’ Fagot, 8’ Trompette, 8’ Royal Trumpet (Gt), 8’ Hautbois, Tremulant, Swell Unison Off
The Pedal
32’ Contre Violone, 16’ Principal, 16’ Violone, 16’ Subbass, 16’ Bordun, 16’ Bourdon Doux (Sw), 8’ Octave, 8’ Gedackt, 4’ Choralbass, 4’ Nachthorn, IV Mixture, 16’ Posaune, 16’ Basson, 8’ Trompete, 4’ Rohrshalmei, Great to Pedal, Swell to Pedal
External links
- The Darlington Apple Festival http://darlingtonapplefest.org/index.htm
- The Darlington Lions Club http://darlingtonmd.lionwap.org/
- The Baltimore Washington Conference http://www.bwcumc.org/church/2375
- Darlington United Methodist Church website http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/
http://www.darlingtonumchurchmaryland.org/Map_of_Darlington_United_Methodist_Church.pdf
- Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties http://www.mdihp.net/dsp_county.cfm?search=county&criteria1=M&criteria2=HA&criteria3=&id=13663&viewer=true