Christ Church, La Plata. Story by Kathy Warren and Photography by Daniel Burgess.

Christ Church, La Plata

Story by Kathy Warren
Photography by Daniel Burgess

For many, the holiday season reminds us of home and the traditions that make each family unique. That sense of family often extends to our places of worship and the history that binds communities together.

For the parishioners of Christ Church, this holiday season will be all the more special as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of the "moving of the stones" from the church's original location in Port Tobacco to its current home beside the Charles County Courthouse in La Plata.

Officially incorporated as "Port Tobacco Parish" in 1692, Christ Church has been serving its parishioners for over 320 years. Though not incorporated until that time, the earliest records indicate worship taking place in a log structure prior to 1692 in Port Tobacco. As the town grew, so did the need for a larger meeting place and by 1815 a brick church replaced the old wooden structure. Port Tobacco's years as a thriving community would find itself waning at the end of the 1800s. When the Charles County Courthouse burned and was relocated to La Plata in 1895, the members of Christ Church were faced with a very hard decision. In order to better serve their community they decided they would also move to La Plata which was now the thriving county seat.

By the mid 1880s, the deteriorating brick church was replaced with one made of Aquia sandstone from across the Potomac River. With so many businesses moving away from Port Tobacco, the church now needed to decide if they should build a brand new structure or if moving the beautiful stone to La Plata would be possible. Undaunted by the arduous task of moving the heavy stones by ox cart, the church banded together to make the difficult three mile journey possible.

For just over $5,000.00, including the cost of land purchased from the Posey family, the church was moved and rebuilt in La Plata next to the courthouse just as it had been in Port Tobacco. On Easter Day of 1905 the first church service was held in the reconstructed church.

On March 30, 1906 just shy of their one year anniversary at the new location, tragedy tested the parish when a fire nearly destroyed the building. A fire originating from a basement furnace engulfed the newly completed structure, ruining stained glass windows and much of the building's interior. The Reverend George Graham managed to save the communion set and the bell was also spared from the fire. Once again the congregation rallied to reconstruct their beloved church and by November of that same year services were once again held in the completed church.

Throughout the 1900s the church saw many changes including the addition of a bell tower, with the installation of electric lights during the 20s, and the building of the parish hall in the 30s. A major renovation in the 1980s included the installation of a new organ and the relocation of the pipes to the balcony of the church. Such improvements are still ongoing as the church grows to meet its ever changing needs and to give back to the community with many outreach programs such as a concert series.

What remains constant in this beautiful historic structure are the gothic details which make it distinctive to our area. The wood paneled vaulted ceiling, vibrant stained glass windows, and massive white marble altar have all stood the test of time. Even as the church faced yet another setback with the tornado in 2002, the congregation once again came together, and with the help of local Mennonite craftsmen were able to repair the unique ceiling and other damage sustained with little disruption to their weekly services.

Today, as have so many before him, The Reverend Joseph W. Trigg leads the congregation of Christ Church with great enthusiasm and hope for what the future holds for this historic church. As the church celebrates its rich heritage and connection with the past, the whole community can take great pride in their accomplishments and dedication to this truly unique church.