File:St. Mark's Petersville.jpg

Summary

This photo, likely taken sometime before 1920, is the interior of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church off Rt. 180 in Petersville.

According to Jody Brumage, archivist for Heritage Frederick, "I recognized some furnishings that survive today at Saint Luke's Church in Brownsville (the altar and reredos, also the hymn board) and Grace Church in Brunswick (the marble font and the lectern). The architectural details also confirm that it is Saint Mark's, most notably the rows of circular cutouts in the rafters and the clerestory windows in the recessed chancel."

St. Mark’s Parish was established in 1789 when the lower portion of the Middletown and Pleasant Valleys were separated from All Saints Parish in Frederick.

A frame or log church was erected on the site in 1807 and consecrated in 1819. This church was replaced in 1830 with the current brick structure and consecrated in 1831.

The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland closed the church in the mid-1960s. Is there a congregation there today?

Jody Brumage I was thrilled to find and identify this photograph, which was previously labeled in our database as “unknown church interior.” The similarity of some of the architecture to the original Grace Chapel in Brunswick is reasonable because this church, the third for Saint Mark’s Parish, was designed in 1891 by the same architect who worked on the original Grace Chapel. His name was Thomas Buckler Ghequier and he was from Baltimore. I have always loved Saint Mark’s and believe it to be one of the most beautiful church buildings and graveyards in the area. I wonder if Ghequier became acquainted with the parish through Rev. Helfenstein. He was ordained a deacon at Holy Cross Church in Harford County. That church was designed by Ghequier and completed in 1887. I have wondered too if Ghequier may have provided the plans for Saint John's Chapel in Burkittsville, since it was built under Rev. Helfenstein and it was completed around the same time that work was being done on Saint Luke's and Grace Chapels.

Anjel Ayrer Scarborough The property still belongs to the Diocese of Maryland. All of the Parish records are held at Grace Church.

Abbie Ricketts The "cat eye" windows are visible.

(From the Patsy Moore Collection, Frederick County Archives and Research Center, Heritage Frederick)