The Church Series: Old Trinity, Church Creek
Living history in an historic church.
An off-the-main-road stop on the way to the beach, Old Trinity Church ranks as one of the oldest sacred spaces in use in the United States. (It is most likely the oldest east of the Mississippi.) Built around 1675, it has endured to house a living congregation to the present day.
According to the parish website, the church was restored to its 17th century appearance from 1953-1960. At that time the Victorian renovation a century prior was undone; the original floors were discovered and repaired, walls reinforce, and new box pews and a pulpit were created from 200 year old heart of pine wood. While a recreation of the original, it is stunningly beautiful in conception and liturgical use.
Approaching the church, one walks from the parking area near the parish house through-centuries old graves. These include Anna Ella Carroll, reputedly one of Lincoln's most trusted advisers. While the eastern shore was decidedly Confederate in its sympathies, Carroll was a driving force in helping to keep Maryland on the Union side.
From the churchyard, one encounters a now unfamiliar characteristic of Colonial design: two entrances, one each on the west and south side. Entering by the south as pictured above, one faces the multi-level pulpit and clerk's box, where the bulk of the service was read from. The lowest pew is for clergy, to be used when they are not otherwise leading the service, at which time they ascend to the top level of the pulpit. From this height and with the aid of the sounding board, they can easily be heard throughout the building without amplification.
The clerk's desk in between is a curious leftover from early America. Clerks were not clergy, but were employed by the parish to lead readings and chanted psalms, as well as assist with administrative matters. In the absence of pipe organs (most parishes didn't have them until the mid-1700's, and even then only in urban centers like Philadelphia and Boston), this person was responsible for leading musical aspects of the service before hymnals and prayer books were readily available. Unfortunately, the qualifications for such a post in early America were not well defined, and the person might well be off key... or the town drunk.
The box pews are of varying configurations, but mostly seat families in a "U" pattern that opens to the center aisle. Turning to the east, we see the chancel and altar. Old Trinity's black walnut altar table is original to the church, now approaching 350 years old. As with all Anglican parishes of the period, the Lord's Prayer, Apostles' Creed, and Ten Commandments were posted around the altar table.
Before 1865, the west gallery of the church was used as a seating area for slaves. Today the space is used as an organ and choir loft, with a single manual Walker tracker organ installed in 1990. Such an instrument would have been highly coveted in the early centuries of the parish, and the excellent acoustics of the space make it a fine addition to the church. The coat of arms of Queen Anne, who reigned in the early years of the parish, hangs from the balcony.
Uniquely situated along Church Creek, the parish built a small dock a few years ago, making it a rare place where one can take their boat to church! Old Trinity is small; measuring 38' by 20'. I've attended services there on the way to Ocean City a number of times; typically the congregation is about 20-30 souls, with more during the academic year and for special services. Services are drawn from the current authorized liturgies and hymnal of the Episcopal Church.
Old Trinity is located at 1716 Taylors Island Road, Church Creek, Maryland, approximately 8 miles southwest of Cambridge off of State Route 16.
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| South entrance and east chancel of Old Trinity, Church Creek |
An off-the-main-road stop on the way to the beach, Old Trinity Church ranks as one of the oldest sacred spaces in use in the United States. (It is most likely the oldest east of the Mississippi.) Built around 1675, it has endured to house a living congregation to the present day.
According to the parish website, the church was restored to its 17th century appearance from 1953-1960. At that time the Victorian renovation a century prior was undone; the original floors were discovered and repaired, walls reinforce, and new box pews and a pulpit were created from 200 year old heart of pine wood. While a recreation of the original, it is stunningly beautiful in conception and liturgical use.
Approaching the church, one walks from the parking area near the parish house through-centuries old graves. These include Anna Ella Carroll, reputedly one of Lincoln's most trusted advisers. While the eastern shore was decidedly Confederate in its sympathies, Carroll was a driving force in helping to keep Maryland on the Union side.
From the churchyard, one encounters a now unfamiliar characteristic of Colonial design: two entrances, one each on the west and south side. Entering by the south as pictured above, one faces the multi-level pulpit and clerk's box, where the bulk of the service was read from. The lowest pew is for clergy, to be used when they are not otherwise leading the service, at which time they ascend to the top level of the pulpit. From this height and with the aid of the sounding board, they can easily be heard throughout the building without amplification.The clerk's desk in between is a curious leftover from early America. Clerks were not clergy, but were employed by the parish to lead readings and chanted psalms, as well as assist with administrative matters. In the absence of pipe organs (most parishes didn't have them until the mid-1700's, and even then only in urban centers like Philadelphia and Boston), this person was responsible for leading musical aspects of the service before hymnals and prayer books were readily available. Unfortunately, the qualifications for such a post in early America were not well defined, and the person might well be off key... or the town drunk.
The box pews are of varying configurations, but mostly seat families in a "U" pattern that opens to the center aisle. Turning to the east, we see the chancel and altar. Old Trinity's black walnut altar table is original to the church, now approaching 350 years old. As with all Anglican parishes of the period, the Lord's Prayer, Apostles' Creed, and Ten Commandments were posted around the altar table.
Before 1865, the west gallery of the church was used as a seating area for slaves. Today the space is used as an organ and choir loft, with a single manual Walker tracker organ installed in 1990. Such an instrument would have been highly coveted in the early centuries of the parish, and the excellent acoustics of the space make it a fine addition to the church. The coat of arms of Queen Anne, who reigned in the early years of the parish, hangs from the balcony.
Uniquely situated along Church Creek, the parish built a small dock a few years ago, making it a rare place where one can take their boat to church! Old Trinity is small; measuring 38' by 20'. I've attended services there on the way to Ocean City a number of times; typically the congregation is about 20-30 souls, with more during the academic year and for special services. Services are drawn from the current authorized liturgies and hymnal of the Episcopal Church.Old Trinity is located at 1716 Taylors Island Road, Church Creek, Maryland, approximately 8 miles southwest of Cambridge off of State Route 16.
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| West entrance of Old Trinity |
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