A History of the Dorchester Methodist Charge

Bucktown

On May 15, 1812, Henry Scott and Elizabeth Scott, his wife, deeded three and a quarter acre of land to Clement Waters, Samuel Cook, Walter Raleigh, Job Brerwood and Edward Williams for a “meeting house of place of worship.”  The original building was known as “Scott’s Chapel” and was destroyed by fire.  In 1892 a new church was built and became Bucktown United Methodist Church.  The Rev. G.W. Bates was the minister at that time.  According to the history of the church, worship services have been uninterrupted since the first building was built circa 1812.  Gravestones on the church property are dated in the late 1700’s.

Friendship

Friendship Church was constructed in 1866 at the time of the Civil War, which affected the churches at Old Aireys and Salem.  The members erected a church near Aireys called Friendship.  The lumber for the church was purchased in Baltimore and transported by sailboat to White Hall by Capt. Bob Mowbray and hauled by ox cart to a tract of land known as “Ennells Reserve,” which was given by Lewis and George W. Clark for $1.00.  During construction of the church a camp meeting was held in the woods with covered wagons and carts used as a shelter.   The first preacher in 1866 was Dr. Joseph H. Mann.

In 1952 the Choptank Construction Co. erected an adjoining building to be used as a Sunday School and for community activities.  In September of 1956 during the pastorate of Rev. Roy L. Jones remodeling and decorating was started.  The contractor Walter Dorman erected the steeple, and the Hurley twins did the interior.  Trying to maintain the church, several years ago, the stained-glass windows were removed and repaired by Bill Foxwell and stained-glass windows were added to the rear interior doors by the Brohawn family in memory of Bob Brohawn and the Nabb family in memory of George W. Nabb, Jr.

Friendship Church, erected 137 years ago, is rich in heritage.  The history of the church is interwoven with the history and social life of the community.  Hopefully the little church by the side of the road will continue to be a blessing to each other, to the community and to the world.

Salem

Salem Church was founded in 1780 as the Dorchester Circuit.  Land was donated by Judge Henry Ennalls who lived in the home of the late John Gore, Jr. At that time the land known as “Ennalls Outlet.”  In about 1800 a small meeting house was erected and called “Ennalls Chapel,” later to become Salem Methodist Church.  In 1855 Rev. Robert E. Kemp preached the dedication sermon at the present Salem United Methodist Church.  The interior has changed little except the removal of the gallery in 1898. 

 In 1959 the three churches along with Secretary Methodist Charge were united as the Dorchester Methodist Charge.  Pastors who served the Dorchester Charge are: Charles Barton (1959-1964), Thomas Wall (1964-1967), George Kirk (1967), Garry Parker (1968-1970), Irvin Behm (1970-1975), Thomas Short (1975-1979), Robert Riddleberger (1979-1982), Charles Walter (1982-1985), Richard C. Hubbard (1985-1986), Brian Barr (1986-1987), Mary Ann Farnell (1987), Karen Booth (1987-1991), James Carmean (1991-1994), Shirley A. Evans (1994-2002), Helen B. Lockwood (2002-2005), Mary Ann Farnell (2005-2020), Gary Crouch, Tish Nance-Spronson, and current Pastor Shelly McCollister. 

In July of 2005 Secretary United Methodist Church began working towards their independence and on July 1, 2007, Bucktown, Friendship and Salem officially became the Dorchester United Methodist Charge.  The three churches have since become independent Methodist churches.