WI-63 Faith Community Church Architectural Survey File This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse- chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation such as photographs and maps. Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment. All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust. Last Updated: 08-29-2003
Transcript
WI-63
Faith Community Church
Architectural Survey File
This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse-
chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National
Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation
such as photographs and maps.
Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site
architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at
the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft
versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a
thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research
project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment.
All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust.
Last Updated: 08-29-2003
-
.-
WI-63 1887-88 Faith Community Church (Old Asbury M. E. Church) Salisbury Public worship
A benchmark in the history of Methodism for Wicomico County is the founding of
Asbury United Methodist Church, established in 1778 during the itinerant ministries of
Freeborn Garrettson. Worshiping in private houses or barns during its earliest years,
the fledgling Salisbury congregation purchased a lot from Mrs. Noah Nelms in 1801.
Construction of a frame church, popularly referred to as the "Old Red Meeting House,"
took place shortly afterwards, and small improvements were made over the course of the
following fifty years. More formally known as "Ebenezer Chapel," the red frame
meeting house was replaced in 1856 with a new frame church that burned in the October
1886 fire. Within seven months following the conflagration that destroyed much of
Salisbury, the Methodist Episcopal congregation, known since 1872 as Asbury, had
drawn together enough funding to start construction of a new church. On July 16, 1887
the Salisbury Advertiser announced:
Work has commenced this week on the new M E. Church here. The building will be a handsome stone structure .... The roof will be of slate and somewhat pyramidal in shape. Mr. E. S. Centman [Sentman} of Port Deposit has the contract for the stone work, and Mr. Geo. Downing, of Wilmington, is superintending the balance of the structure.
The design of the church, conceived by Baltimore architect Jackson C. Gott,
followed a popular architectural trend for the time in the Romanesque Revival style.
The square 50' by 50' main sanctuary, covered by a broad pyramidal slate roof, was
dominated on its northwest comer by the two story entrance and bell tower surmounted
-
-
Page2
by a broach spire. Executed in rusticated stone with round arched openings and corner
turrets, the style was first popularized by New York architect Henry Hobson Richardson
during the 1870s and 1880s. In contrast to the more traditional axial church plan with a
center nave and side aisles, the new Asbury was built on a diagonal axis with the pulpit
directly across from the corner entrance. The newness of the design to Salisbury
encouraged comment. The May 26, 1888 issue of the Salisbury Advertiser stated that,
The building is a handsome structure of Port Deposit stone, laid in red mortar. The main building is 50 x 50 ft. with a wing for a lecture room 40 x 50. The edifice is surmounted by a belfry and spire 86 ft. high. The roof is slate with copper trimmings. The main auditorium is furnished diagonally, with the pulpit in the comer opposite the main entrance, which is through the tower. Behind the pulpit is an organ chamber 14 ft. square. The interior of the building is a model of workmanship and architectural design.
The cost of the new building reached $25,000, which was substantially underwritten by
William H. Jackson. In 1928 the Asbury congregation erected a large addition, also in
stone, on the north end of the 1887 church. Relatively plain by contrast, the front door
was enriched by a Gothic Revival arch. Fixed in the northwest corner is a datestone
with carved numerals, "1778-1928." By the 1950s the Asbury congregation had
expanded sufficiently to outgrow its North Division Street location. A new site for the
congregation at the south end of Salisbury was deemed wise decision since three
Methodist churches and the Presbyterian church were located within a two block area of
one another in the Newtown district. The 1887 Romanesque church was sold to the
Faith Community congregation, while the 1928 educational hall was acquired by the
Allen Baptist congregation, which had built a Colonial Revival church next door in
1937.
MARYLAND HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLAN INFORMATION
RESOURCE NAME: Faith Community Church (Asbury M. E. Church)
Prepare both a summary paragraph and a general description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today.
Faith Community Church, formerly Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, stands on the east side of North Division Street north of the intersection with US Route 50 in the center of Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland. The single-story church faces west with the principal gable roof oriented on a north/south axis.
Built in 1887-88, the single-story stone church, following an asymmetrical plan, is erected of Port Deposit granite. The main body of the church is squarish in shape and is covered by a steeply pitched pyramidal roof sheathed with slate. Rising at the northwest comer of the sanctuary block is a two-story entrance and bell tower capped by an octagonal broach spire. Extending from the southeast comer is a single-story lateral wing. Attached to the north side of the main block is a single-story gable roofed wing that joins the three-story educational building, erected in 1928, to the 19th-century church. During the mid 1950s, the Asbury Methodist congregation decided to relocate their church to a lot in south Salisbury along Camden Avenue. The 1887 building was sold to the Faith Community congregation, while the 1928 educational hall was purchased by the Allen Baptist congregation next door.
The rusticated granite church is supported by a projecting stone foundation defined by a watertable. The rusticated stone, laid in semi-coursed fashion, has a reddish-brown mortar. Most of the roofs and the church spire are covered with slate. The entrance and bell tower, which marks the northwest coITer of the main block, is fixed on an diagonal in relationship to the sanctuary. A large double door arched entrance features 21-panel doors topped by a multi-pane colored glass transom. Fixed at the top of the arch is a stone embossed "A.D. 1887." The second floor of the tower is pierced by a paired double arch belfry opening featuring smooth stone columns that support round arches of rusticated stones. A series of four square openings pierce the wall below the belfry arches. Above the paired arches is a series of granite modillion blocks that define the eave li ... 1e of the tower. The octagonal spire is accented with small conical turrets, one on each comer. The stone turrets are capped by conical slate roofs topped by metal caps.
The west side of the sanctuary block is defined by a series of five round arched windows filled with colored glass. The series of windows is sheltered by a shed roofed extension of the pyramidal roof, and the roof is underpinned by a row of stick brackets finished with chamfered edges. Extending across the wall at the below the edge of the roof is a row of granite cornice blocks. A shed roof dormer is centered on the pyramidal roof The front of the dormer is pierced by a series of four colored glass windows. The roof are sides are sheathed with slate. Rising atop the pyramidal roof is a pyramidal roofed cupola topped by a metal cross. Each side of the cupola has four square colored glass windows. The southwest
Areas of Significance-Check and justify below _ archeology-prehistoric _ community planning _ landscape architecture _K_ religion _ archeology-historic _conservation _ law _science _ agriculture _ economics _ literature _ sculpture ~architecture _education _ military _ social/ _ art _engineering _ music humanitarian _ commerce _ exploration/settlement _ philosophy _theater _ communications _ industry _ politics/government _ transportation
_ invention _other (specify)
Specific dates 1887-88 Builder/Architect Jackson C. Gott, arch1 tect George A Downing, contractor
check: Applicable Criteria: and/or
A B x C D E. S. Sentman, masonry contractor
Applicable Exception: A B C D E F G
Level of Significance: national state x local
Prepare both a summary paragraph of significance and a general statement of history and support.
A benchmark in the history of Methodism for Wicomico County is the founding of Asbury United Methodist Church, established in 1778 during the itinerant ministries of Freeborn Garrettson. Worshiping in private houses or barns during its earliest years, the fledgling Salisbury congregation purchased a lot from Mrs. Noah Nelms in 1801.1
Construction of a frame church, popularly referred to as the "Old Red Meeting House," took place shortly afterwards, and small improvements were made over the course of the following fifty years. More formally known as "Ebenezer Chapel," the red frame meeting house was replaced in 1856 with a new frame church that burned in the October 1886 fire. Within seven months following the conflagration that destroyed much of Salisbury, the Methodist Episcopal congregation, known since 1872 as Asbury, 2 had drawn together enough funding to start construction of a new church. On July 16, 1887 the Salisbury Advertiser announced:
Work has commenced this week on the new M E. Church here. The building will be a handsome stone structure. The main auditorium will be 50 x 50 feet. At the northwest comer will be a tower 86 ft. high, through which will be the main entrance. The main aisle will extend diagonally across the church from the main entrance to the pulpit, which will be located in the southeast comer. From the main building will extend to the North a Sunday School room 42 x 50 ft. separated from the main auditorium hy folding doors. The roof will be of slate and somewhat pyramida1 in shape. Afr. E. S. Centman (Sentman) of Port Deposit has the contract for the stone work, and Mr. Geo. Downing, of Wilmington, is superintending the balance of the structure. 3
The design of the church, conceived by Baltimore architect Jackson C. Gott, followed
1 The Salisbury Times, "Asbury History Dates Back 185 years," March 2, 1963.
2 E. C. Hallman, The Garden of A-fethodism, p. 343-44.
3 Salisbury Advertiser, July 16, 1887.
9. Major Bibliographical References Survey No. WI- 63
1 o. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property _______ _
Quadrangle name ______ _ Quadrangle scale ______ _
UTM References do NOT complete UTM references
ALU I I I I I I I I I B w .__I .._I _._I ___........_.! I I I I Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
c LJ..J .__I ..........._. ___ .......... _, oLLJ ~I ~1-'-'-..._..I ~I..__._....__ ......... ~ E Li..J _I ___. __ _
F LLJ I II ...... ~......_-......-...i G Li..J ..... I ............. ____ _ H LLJ I
Verbal boundary description and justification
List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries
state code county code
state code county code
11. Form Prepared By
name/title Paul B. Touart, Architectural Historian
organization Private Consultant date 3/25/99
street & number P. 0. Box 5 telephone 410-651-1094
city or town Westover state MD 21871
The Maryland Historic Sites Inventory was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement.
The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights.
return to:
Annapolis, Maryland (301) 269-2438
Trust MARYL.AND HISTORICAL TRUst
DHCP/DHCD 100 COMMUNITY PLACE
CROWNSVILLE, MD 2103~·2023 514-7600
PS-2746
-
-
-
7.1 DESCRIPTION Faith Community Church (Asbury M. E. Church) Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland
comer of the sanctuary block is defined by a stone turret that is topped by a conical roof of slate. The top of the cone is capped with a metal cover and finial. The south side of the sanctuary is an asymmetrically designed wall with a series of three round arched windows sheltered by a shed-roofed extension of the pyramidal roof Like the shed roof on the west side, it is supported by a series of stick brackets finished with chamfered edges. West (left) of the shed roof is a pair of colored windows fitted within a segmental arched opening. Below the line of the slate roof, the rusticated granite wall is defined by a row of cornice blocks. Centered on the roof is a long shed roofed dormer with four colored glass windows. Extending to the southeast on a diagonal line with the main block is a side entrance wing of rusticated stone.
The north side of the main block is largely covered by a single story gable roofed administrative and educational building built at the same time as the sanctuary block. Long shed roofed dormers pierced by colored glass windows mark the roof A centrally located side entrance is sheltered by a shed roof portico pierced by round arched openings. The north end of the administrative wing is terminated in a parapet gable pierced by an elaborate round arched window opening filled with colored glass in leaded panes.
Attached to the north side of the 1887 church is a three-story, granite wing erected in 1928 as an expansion of the Sunday School and meeting rooms. The large ell-shaped granite addition is marked by a datestone on its northwest comer. The stone is embossed "1778-1928." Centered on the Division Street elevation is a Gothic arched entrance. The three floors are pierced by paired and single window openings. The medium pitched hip roof is covered with asphalt shingles and the eaves are open with the rafter ends exposed.
The interior was not seen.
-
-
Salisbury Advertiser, May 26, 1888
The New Asbury Church Dedicated by Bishop Foster
The new Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, which has just been completed at a cost of$25,000 was formally dedicated last Sunday ... The dedicatory sermon was preached by Bishop Foster, of Boston ...
The building, which will seat from 900 to l 000, including the lecture room, was crowded. After the services Rev. Mr. Martindale announced to the audience that there was a debt of $8,000 resting upon the church. The taking of subscriptions was immediately begun and resulted in raising of nearly $2,000.
The building is a handsome structure of Port Deposit stone, laid in red mortar. The main building is 50 x 50 ft. with a wing for lecture room 40 x 50. The edifice is surmounted by a belfry and spire 86 ft. high. The roof is slate with copper trimmings. The main auditorium is furnished diagonally, with the pulpit in the corner opposite the main entrance, which is through the tower. Behind the pulpit is an organ chamber 14 ft. square. The interior of the building is a model of workmanship and architectural design. Mr. Jackson C. Gott, of Baltimore, is the architect; the execution of the design has been under the charge of Mr. Geo. Downing, of Wilmington, formerly of this town. The building is of Romanesque style of architecture.
~ ·"'t:vv M~uur y '-11u1 \..11 1-1t:re
Is Beauty And Splendor I1~rn1C'diat('ly follo\\ing World Sr., W. N. Jackson Sr., W. ll made eDd resulted in the deci- Asbmiam agreed on a modi- eel and arrangemenb for bids and,er attrac!i\·e furn:-hings in the
War 11. \\hen service personnel Jackson II, 0. W. Dashiell, Thom- sion that tYoo of the three large Bed brick llld marble colonial de- financing made. colounl st_\le lud bet:n ehed .. ed \\l.~1e returning: home and ltfe was as C. Roe, George P. Chandler, downtown churches should IDOft, sign with alternates to omit the In March of 1960, J. Roland Da- TI1c1e \1..1::. n1tid1 e11thus1:..i:i.m fur n•turniug lo normalcy, Asbury Everett Hearn, S. Norman Hol· one to the south end of the city chapel and a new FeHowship Hall. shiell and Sons Co. ol Salisbu1y a thrl•e bncet l~·Jf gol-d windu11• M._otboch::.t Church members be- land Sr., Miss Dorothy Mitchell. and another to the easL The committee began .to work on had submitted the lowest bid for to ht_. in tht' 1c~1r of tli.e d1:111u.·I gau to think of enlarging their and Mrs. Eugene Mess~k. After many meetings and much the _selectimt of a hating and the new church in the. amount_ of ".il~ I.5 l"l.}!ored n1~1liu1l!:i d...-. t:burch f...1i:d1tit"S. 'I1le Peninsula Met~~ Con- thought, Asbury wted to IDDft llgbting system and the proper $1.307~660. That was strll too big~ p~etm,::: tht.> life of l ·hn:-...~ and tl1a
A l.nuhhn~ committee asked ference. too. was begmmng to to an 11-acre site 00 Camden Ave. place to put the new organ. a_nd £1gures w~re cut. plans modi- lu~tory of ~1d!toli1~1•1. 1b fou1Hf-mcltitccb to make studies and think of moving Methochst church- Ext. which had been. purchaled April ol 1959 found the commit- f1ed and onus~1ons allowed for. e~. John. WL>~ll'!. and the ea1Jy 1t•ctHirn•t•ndations as to how the es to the outskirts of the city In- for $63.000. In 1955, interviews tee working 00 problems such as It took nearly a year lo do t~1.s. cH"_eu1t rnb-~ v. ho brought Me1h~.:rndu...1ry could be enlarged and stead of having . Uiree taJ:ge with· architects began and many the type boiler and fuel to be A final figure of $92.1,259 v.as od1sm lo tile L.1~1:rn Shore. Ho improved. The rommittee soon churches clustered m one section meetings were held in which med, where to air condition and agreed upon on Feb. 14., 1962. or \\i:IS to be paid to Fret"bur fouud that all ideas and sugges- of Salisbury in a short five-block members expressed their opin- where not to, what colon to use Garr~ttson \\ho Lmu~ht tht> nei. lions involved additional ground area. iom and views. On April 11. 1156. in the interior, aod the type of EVERYnlING FROM good ~c- r~lig1on lo S.:1lisbury. and lo Fran-wlueh could not be obtained a coat.rad was signed with Har- furnishings. By the end of the coustical equipment to pleasmg ~1s .\::.bury for \\ hom the duirch
t ·ummittee members were Av- IN mE EARLY 195iO's a study old E. Wagoner, a Philadelphia year, many meetings had been colors for the walls in a variety IS named. ery \\'. lfa!I. John W. Downing of Methodism in Salisbury t.•as architect. held and plans had been approv- or shades, pew cushions, and oth- 1 Many mt'ml-..-c.·rs ft·lt that iu .ui-
dit1u11 to the \\ rndo1·, dt'.,;i:.!l•(.•d 11\
the atdukl"l. \l,.,•\ \HJUlJ 1~;i:11 !11<'!
old 1ti.;·mon:Jl 111miu·.1~ ;.11.d µ!.iques to k a µart of the 1ww churlh. The~ dt't:1JL·d to• li<.1\t" J
memorial eon1Jor <.1lont·~ale IL.sanctuan and IU ta.l..e the uaul<!
plates f~·om n1emo1 i<sl \\ rnJo\' s, the comp1ete Sheµhe11i and Fl0t·k and the Railroad Windo\\ s a111I mount them in Memorial Com· dor. 'lhe corridor \1 as to ~ lighted so tht.'Y l"•1ul.l l·.1,oJy Ii,· ~l'ell
THE ST. FRA.'VCIS of Assissi windows thev dedded to stort- and use in the cil.'.li.Cl \\hen ll b built
Financing \\.:.i::. de'.:K.·nltt_.d by th¢ pastor, the Ht"\" J. Hohert MJckey, as tou~ht>r than the d(.·~ig11
planning but f111.:.ill~. th~ 1:omm1ttee made an i:lt1gements to borrow $-I00.000 from the Salisbw _\' National Bank, lhe First ~anuual Bank of Baltimore. and the Saving~ Bank of Baltiworc. 111e lo...1ll is to be rt'pa1d. H1 15 ye<trs 111 monthly paymcuts of $3.376 at oi11 interest r.:Jte of 6 per c:ent
ions of rose L>e1ge vdvet. The \I 1• dows of the sanctuarv are narrn•f and of clear gla.ss alld \\bite flut .. ed columns are at inten·als along the walls.
Spire 155 feet high and marble rolu~ns ~ce new A&hury Methodist Church. Columns on the front of the
Asbury History Dates Back 185 Y~"~~~ It wa!:> :r-.-·ov. 11, 1778. The Rev-,frtends in Delaware and her en- and Asbury Methodist Oiurch ~··.·After this event. there ·was The society purchased a lot "in was built on the site of the ~w
olutionary \_Var .was in full prog- thusiasm for his preaching Salisbury. little opposition to Methodism. the vicinity of Salisbury," since stone church at a cost of $3300. r~·-.-. and \\-a~t~mgton's !~·oops .at prompted her to invite him to The new church group did not William James associated him- Salisbury did not then extend to 1be old meeting house was torn \alley Forge v.ere suffenng from her home to speak to her friends. have smooth sailing. Opposition self with the new religion and he the church property, from Mrs. down and a small church school rn!d and hunger. -:- grew in some sections and when and Mrs. Nelms were undoubted- Nelms for $50 to be paid in in- building put up and used as a
Fn.•cborn ~;.'.11-rcttson. 26, one of BUT "THESE new Methodists" the young preacher returned tD Jy the first Methodists in Salis- stallments and in 1001 built the temporary postoffice until the fire tlit• fu·st native Methodist preach- had enemies everywhere t bey Salisbury the next year, a group bury. first church. This is the property of 1886. n~ church school was H-.. \ias rn..ling from Broad l'n'<'k, tried to spread their religion and of the so-called ~best people" J'8I.. , on which Asbury Church has stood built from malerial:; fr!Jm the old ~mersct County, to Salisbury, the sheriff waJ sent to take -.Mr. lied and sent spies to hear him THE ME'l'llODIST Society met for 162 years. The small red meeting house. also So~er~t _County, to preach Garrettson to jail. The sheriff and to discover the best time to at the home of George Parter, frame building was kno"'ll as the In 1887. the present stone church al the 1~v1tallon of ~s. Noah was prevailed upon to release bis sei%e. the circuit rider. One ol. now known as· Leonan:l"s Mill, Old Red Meeting House. was built and has given 86 ,·ears Nelms, wife of a promment Salis- prisoner and he went on to bis the spies WM •-thrilled with the~ ~\sbary and Delmar, In 1818. the chapel was plaster- of continuous service. Lw Y merrhanl. next assignment. talk that he we"El returned to his ht the .!!' parlor Jn winter eel and a stove installe-d. 'Ibis
1frs. Nelms had heard t h • This meeting marked the be- friends. and dared them to touch and in .4111 oc:ross the toad meeting house was occupied until THE DEED to the property youu' preacher when ihe visited]ginoings of the Methodist Society the tpeaker. ii 1hl IUIDIDer. 1851 ••heo a new frame church CSee HISTORY, Page I)
SALISBURY, l\IARYLAND,·SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1963
New Asbury,Gflurch Here Is Beauty And· Splendor lmm~diatc>lr following World Sr .• W. N. Jack.~n Sr .. W. H. made and resulted - in the deci- Asburians agreed on a ~ ed and arrangements for bids and er attractive furnishin~s in lhe
War IT. when service personnel Jackson II, 0. W. Dashiell, Thom- sion that two of the three large fied brick ad marble colonial de- financing made. colonial style had been checked were returning home and life was as C. Roe, George P. Chandler, downtown churches should move. sign with lltemates to omit the In March of 1960. J. Roland Da- 'There was much enlhuc:iasm for re-turning to normal<."y, Asbury Everett Heam, S. Norman Hol- one to the south end of the city chapel and a new Fellowship Hall. sbiell and Sons Co. o( Salisbury a three lancet ]("ar gold window ~Telhodisl Church members be· land Sr., Jlliss Dorothy Jllitohell. and another to the east. The commillee began to work on hod submitted the lowest bid for to be in the rear of th<> rhanc.l J.?an to think of enlarging their and Mrs. Eugene Messick. After many meetings and much the selecticm a!- a beating aod the new church in the amount of with 15 colored medalhon~ Oechurch facilitie-s. The Peninsula Me~is~ Con- thought. Asbury YOtecf to move lighting system and the proper $1,307.660. '11lat was still too hig~ p~cting the lifl" of Christ and the
A building committee asked ft:rence. too, was begmrung to to an 11-acre site on Camden Ave. place to put the new organ. and figures were cut, plans modi- history or Methodism. its found- / architects to make studies and think of moving_ Methodist c~urch- Ext. which had been purchased April ol 1951 found the commit- fied .and omissions allowed for. er, John Wesley, and the ea:~.v / ~ recommendations as to how the es to the outskirts of the city in- for $63,000. In 1155, interviews tee working on problems such as It took nearly a year to do this. circuit riders who brought Meot.l)r" sanctuary rould be enlarged and stead of having . three Jm:llO with arohitects began and many the type boiler ud fuel to be A final figure of $921,259 was odism to the Eastern Shore. Ho. improved. 'The committee soon churches clustered m one lection meetings were held in which used, where to~ air condition and agreed upon OD Feb. 14, 1962. or was to be paid to Freelxm found that all ideas and sugges- of Salisbury in a short five-block members expressed their opin- where not bt, what coJan to ·111e :.. -:- Garrettson who brought the ne\. tions im·olved additional ground area. ions and views. On April 11, 1956, in the Jnterlar.~ IDd U.».~IC' .:-- EVD.'"111NG FROM good ac- religion to Salisbury. and to Fran-'ll"hioh could not be obtained. a oontract was signed with Har- lunlilbinp.. By· the ead' of-~!bt CllUSli<al equipment to pleasing cis A>bury for whom the rhurch
Commitlee members were Av· IN 11tE EARLY 19.lO's a study old E. Wagoner, a ~ ,_, .. mmy -.tinpl'had"beoa <Olors for the walls in a variety is named. ery W. Hall. John W. Downing ol Methodism in Salisbury was architecL ;, '•"'° [ held andopilm::had bem IPl"O"· of abides, pew c:ushiom, and oth- Jllaoy members Celt that in ad-
Spire 15;, feel hrgh and marble columns grace new Asbury Methodist Church.
dition to the window df.si~ned hy the architect. t.hev \\'OUld want the> old memorial window!I; and plaques to be a part o( tilt- ll<'•V
church. They rlC'f'idrrl 1,. h:wr ,, memorial corrirlor ,1!n11r51flr tllP sanctuary and lo l:ik" thr mun" plal<-'i from m<-mnr ial \\ :r11Jm\·"· the rompl<-lr Slwph('td ;md Vlod\ and the nailroarf WimlO\rs nnrl mount them in l\Tt'morial ( 'orri· dor. The corridor was lo be lighted· •. Ibey could easily be ....,_
17rF. ST. FR.\,,.,_., nf ,\.,.,,,, .. i
windows lhev drt•1d~'<i lo slorr :iwl use in ~ chapel wht>n it is huill.
Financing was described by the pastor, the Rev. J. Rohert Mack· ey. as toug~r than the desi!!n planning but finally. thE! eomm1ttee made arrang('mC'nl~ to horrow $400.000 from thr Salishur~· National Bank. the First National Bank of Baltimore. and !ht' Savings Bank of Baltimorr. 111t' loan is to he repaid m l!i yrars in
monthb• payment" of $.J.316 at an interest rate of 6 per C<'nt.
Tiie color ~c-hl"me of thr :in hilN'"t was approH•<l hy l\Tj..,c; I k11 othv Mitche'll. loc:-il art1c-..t :rnrl a nlt-mhrr of ti)(' chmch. A r;1tl1P
dral or chl'rr\· rl'.'<l W:l" cho..,Pn for !hr rarfl('l ~n thr 1w11 hlr I lo11r o{ the- sanctu:irv wi!h f)('I'" r11'-hions of rose he1iit- n•h"cl The ,.., .. do,,·s of thl' s:rnd11:in· :i•r 1111-rm·.•
and of clear i::b!-" a~rl nhilf' 1111!erl columns arr a! inlP1 \·:-ih alon~ the walls.
Columns on tht> front of !he !See CHl:Rnl. Page 41
Asbury History Dates Back 185 Years fllt11ion11~ \\":-ir \\;:io; m full p1·n~.,!1111"i:t<-m for h 1c; prr~ching Sali,bury.. . Iii. opposition to ~1ethodism. the \'icmity. or Sah~hur~·." <.inr(' ston(' dmr.-11 ;it :1 m<..! 0~ s:i.-,rnl
Tt \'1!' l\rn 11. 1i7R Thl' n ... \·-1fri{'nrlc-.. in f)('bwarf' and h('r" eon-,anrf Ac;h11rv Methodist Church of' this event, there wasl The society purchnc:<'rl a lot "inl''a" bui1t on th(' s:tP of thr n~1...-
Cla.~ rooms are spaciou~ with chalk boards. sheln~. and plenty or closet
space. In each room, a movie screen is altarhed to the wall
("Ot11in11•• Fro111 Pare- O•e HI STORY religious fervor. and the first Sun- ycMJth of the COUDly and for llerT-~ay school 1\·hJCh was organized ice per30DDe) in nearby aunco-
datffi Aug. 22. 1807. called thfo m l837 and met at .2 p.m. on league. It bu boUled ma civic church the Methodist Episcopal Sundays. ~ Monday night class activities includinc Girl DJ Scout Ehfonezer OJ.ape!. On Sept. ll, \\:as organized and David Vance bobby shows, exlu"bitl. dramatic 1372. the church wu incorporat· " 35 leader. from 1823 to 11162 and musical entertainmeDta, ad "d H the Asbury Methodist ~hen he. died. Mr .. Vance had similar functiam.. The building Church of Salisbury. "on nabon.al prorlnnence as a was dediated. on Oct. 21. 1121
leader agamst slavery and as when a $10 000 bscriptioa
P The new. churc~ was built of head of a temperance movement. made to ~ -L-~L was crt Deposit gramte and a new . QIW"UI.
par~nage was also built and do- •.• . In 1947. the cburch had grown nated to the church by William ~ SOCIAL and educational so large that parking bad be-H. Jack~n who had c-ontributed ~uildm~. ~ellowship Hall. came l'Ome a problem azxl a 'i.parking J!enerously to the nf'w church mto being m 1928 when Mr. Jack- lot on Garrettaaa Pl~ - across ~e parsonage on N. Division st: ~on. mal~.hed every $100. ro~tri- from the church. was ~ 1c ~!ill in no:e. hution \\1th a S40 ~ntr1button. for the use of memben;:·7he
OlMr nof~worl11y fod!'t nhout ~~~i~o:t :~ UM~1 building and fur- next year, the present minister, t'11• th•.in:h are a revival which As~ry·s ;:ll~~sh~o ~iooo. the Rev. J. ~ MKkey. came ~f".['.:m m 1112..1 anrl la!ittt'rl for two \'ict~d the fir.r:t rnurJ • ~ to the cbmdt .. 11hich ha·~ •l',ll" «l1Jtll1" 11p ;"! <'Oirl 1.-J f cent~ :. ·- ' • ! { 1 •1 0 I !f'Cll :lg(' r('Cl"f':lhOll ('f'!llf'r for fhf' present membership 0£ 1506.
WE • • •
ARE PLEASED TO HAVE FURNISHED THE LOVELY CARPET FOR THE BEAUTIFUL NEW ASBURY CHURCH
• • •
s.larday, March z. 1953 THE SALISBURY TIMES 9
WE ARE VERY PROUD
TO HA VE TAKEN
PART IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
THE NEW ASBURY
METHODIST CHURCH
WOOD RICHARDSON AND SON
Furnishing Th~ Shore For 35-Years With The Finest In Roofing And
SALISBURY, MD.
• • • I AM ESPECIALLY
PLEASED TO- HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO LAY THE
BEAUTIFUL. CARPETING FOR THE NEW ASBURY METHODIST CHURCH
• • •
~ =
-
-
-
8.1 SIGNIFICANCE Faith Community Church (Asbury M. E. Church) Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland
a popular architectural trend for the time in the Romanesque Revival style. The square 50' by 50' main sanctuary, covered by a broad pyramidal slate roof, was dominated on its northwest corner by the two story entrance and bell tower surmounted by a broach spire. Executed in rusticated stone with round arched openings and corner turrets, the style was first popularized by New York architect Henry Hobson Richardson during the 1870s and 1880s. In contrast to the more traditional axial church plan with a center nave and side aisles, the new Asbury was built on a diagonal axis with the pulpit directly across from the corner entrance. The newness of the design to Salisbury encouraged comment. The May 26, 1888 issue of the Salisbury Advertiser stated that,
The building is a handsome structure of Port Deposit stone, laid in red mortar. The main building is 50 x 50 ft. with a wing for a lecture room 40 x 50. The edifice is surmounted by a belfry and spire 86 ft. high. The roof is slate with copper trimmings. The main auditorium is furnished diagonally, with the pulpit in the corner opposite the main entrance, which is through the tower. Behind the pulpit is an organ chamber 14 ft. square. The interior of the building is a model of workmanship and architectural design. 4
The cost of the new building reached $25,000, which was substantially underwritten by William H. Jackson. 5 In 1928 the Asbury congregation erected a large addition, also in stone, on the north end of the 1887 church. Relatively plain by contrast, the front door was enriched by a Gothic Revival arch. Fixed in the northwest corner is a datestone with carved numerals, "1778-1928." By the 1950s the Asbury congregation had expanded sufficiently to outgrow its North Division Street location. A new site for the congregation at the south end of Salisbury was also deemed wise since three Methodist churches and the Presbyterian church were located within a two block area of one another in the Newtown district. The 1887 Romanesque church was sold to the Faith Community congregation, while the 1928 educational hall was acquired by the Allen Baptist congregation, which had built a Colonial Revival church next door in 193 7.
