Smithville Church is the oldest standing Methodist church in Calvert
County and has been a Calvert County Historic District site since 1976.
This one-story brick structure with a balcony in a modified Italian
style has a small half-moon shaped window near the roofline in stained
glass that reads: Smithville M.E. Church, May 30, 1840.
Heavy white cornices support the building's roof and gingerbread wood
canopies in white shade the windows and two main entry doors. Brick
walkways accompanied by traditional boxwood convey a colonial feel as
you approach the front doors.
The community of Dunkirk was originally known as "Smithville," named
initially for the Smith family-the largest landowners and "solid men of
means" at the time. When the town grew large enough to require a post
office, and an official name, it appeared there was already a
Smithville, Maryland. The local story goes that a parishioner-a cobbler-
suggested the name of his village back home in England. And so, the town
was renamed Dunkirk. When the church was dedicated on May 30, 1840, it
was named "Smithville" to acknowledge the original name of the town.
"Most people are inspired by local history," says Smithville M.E. Church
Pastor Darryl Zoller. "I've served in other historic churches before and
find that history reminds the parishioners of our glorious past and
leads us to remake the future for generations to come.
"There have only been changes to the interior through the decades," says
Pastor Zoller. "At the turn of the century, stained glass windows
replaced plain glass. Pews were replaced and carpet added, but most of
the interior is original."
The interior is styled in a simple version of Victorian Gothic. A
balcony, supported by decorative columns, was turned by early
parishioner John W. Fowler. Wainscoting covers the bottom half of the
lower level. A beautiful fresco of a cross dominates the ceiling along
with two chandeliers. The colorful large paned stained glass windows
have a white frosted glass pattern in the center and are arched within
square frames.
"Things haven't changed much as far as what the church looks like," says
97-year-old Edwin Ward. "I've been a member of Smithville Church since I
was a baby. Now I can't get to church so the pastor visits me at my
home. I remember placing live greens like holly and running cedar in the
church for Easter and Christmas. I took over cutting the greens from my
father when he couldn't do it anymore."
"In 1951 the education building was added," Pastor Zoller says. "We have
a lively congregation that loves people, loves the Lord and loves to
spend time with each other."
Zoller explained that the church is a busy place, hosting meetings for
groups such as a Cub Scout pack, a Boy Scout troop, a drop-in grief
support group led by Calvert's Hospice, the United Methodist Women who
plan fellowship and missions, and the United Methodist Men who meet
monthly for a fellowship breakfast. "But, all are welcome," says Pastor
Zoller.
"Our future plan is to renovate and expand the educational building and
to connect it to the sanctuary. More accessible bathrooms, stairs and an
elevator, classrooms, offices, a nursery, a new kitchen, and an enlarged
fellowship hall will help us to better serve our members and northern
Calvert County," Pastor Zoller adds.
An Advent Bible Study will begin on Thursday, Dec. 1, and continue every
Thursday until Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
"This Christmas we are putting up a 'Chrismon' tree," Pastor Zoller
says. "It will be decorated with monograms of Christ's symbols on white
material and trimmed in gold. We will dedicate it the second Sunday of
December."
Also planned for the holiday season, says Pastor Zoller, is an organ
concert of Advent music on Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. given by guest organist Ron
Fleck. Additionally, two Christmas Eve candlelight services will be
held; one at 7 p.m. for the family, followed by a birthday party for
Jesus. The second is a traditional candlelight service at 9 p.m.
"We invite the community to come home for Christmas and experience
worship in an historic setting," says Pastor Zoller.
For more information call 410-257-3160 or email sumcdunkirk@chesapeake.net. |
