Ebenezer AME Charlotte Hall
Come ye from both near and afar, Come worship with us,
We'll leave the door ajar
Our History
Ebenezer A.M.E. Church was founded in the year of 1804, by a group of free humble pious colored folk, in a small patch of woods in Mechanicsville, Md. It was the first of its denomination in Southern Md. One half acre of land to build a school house or church for Ebenezer was donated by Mrs. Jane Gross. If the land donated was not used for that purpose, it was to be returned to its rightful owner. This was a time of pain and oppression for the colored population here in Southern Md. A log cabin was erected which was unique because of the dovetailing where the logs interest at the corners. The church construction was of old slavery craftsmanship. The logs are placed together with the A cut style and a form of mortar that included horsehair placed between bricks to keep termites from destroying the wood, and to give the church a good drain system when it rained. The hand-hew logs were chinked with mortar and laced with horsehair to avoid their separation. The building was of a small rectangular shape about 18x25 feet. Ebenezer’s cabin housed Sunday worship services until 1897. Many old-time revivals were held in the cabin by visiting preachers from other counties, who traveled by horse and on foot to bear witness to the word of God. In 1950 the St Mary’s County School System rented the log cabin and began using it as a local school for black children who attended grades 1-3. It then took on the name of the White March one room school house for blacks, and began teaching grades 4-7.
There are still a few members here at Ebenezer that attended school in the log cabin. On Sunday June 7th 1996 the congregation of Ebenezer Charlotte Hall, paid homage to the log cabin that served as the church home for more than a century. A restoration effort was launched to reconstruct the building and convert it to a museum, and attempt to claim and rekindle the African American Heritage in St. Mary’s County, failed. The Log Cabin is believed to have played a small part in the underground railroad for slaves from Va. These slaves hid at Ebenezer during their quest to become free. The Cabin is recognized by the St Mary’s County Historical Society, as the first
black church erected in Southern Md.
Rev. Alphorns McGlen then pastor of Ebenezer stated; “the value of the Cabin is priceless, when you look back and think of the road traveled to overcome hatred, on the way to freedom, there is no price that can compare to its value. How I got over, My soul looks back and wonder’s, How I got over.” The log cabin was taken down and stacked on its original foundation with the tin from the roof still covering its remains. The words from the sign that hung above the Log Cabin door reads: ‘In this hollowed spot, their spirits are enshrined forever. Though their names and faces have been forgotten and dimmed by time: Nature in this Glade still catches song and praise along the leafy turf, while the Tree’s silent and still around the cabin, wait as sentinel’s for the final shout’.
In 1949 Ebenezer erected a second Church on the 7 acres of land donated by, T.D. Edwards and his wife in the year of 1876, (under Deed #JFF 2/94/85) for the purpose of building a larger church of block and stone. The land was located in the 5th Election District on the right side of the public road leading to Charlotte Hall from Mechanicsville, then called by the name of White Marsh Road. The new church is a total of 45 foot steps from the entrance of the log cabin where they began their journey 145 years prior. They held Bible Study, Sunday Worship Service, Revivals, Old Time Camp Meetings, and Yearly Homecoming Celebrations under the leadership of Rev. T.N. Hawkins (1949), Rev. B.C. Fields and Rev. F Holt (1956). In 1956 church members built a bell tower, so that the call to worship could be heard through-out the tiny village of Charlotte Hall and Mechanicsville Md. The words written on the cornerstone of the new church still clear today, Behold the Stone Shall Bear Witness Unto us. Joshua 24:27. This church was used from 1949 until the year of 1967 when an even larger church was built. This building is still maintained and used as the fellowship hall for church members and guests, during times of special occasions, church anniversaries, homecoming, women and men’s day celebrations as well as children’s bible study hour on Sunday’s.
Pressing Forward Toward the Mark of a Higher Calling: in 1961 Ebenezer began work on an even larger church facility. On Sunday October 15th 1967, Ebenezer A.M.E. Church of Charlotte Hall, Md. dedicated it’s third church facility that continues to be used today. This new church sits exactly 49 footsteps from the second church building now used as the hall. The dedication service was held by Reverend D.P. Leak the Pastor of the church, Rev George T Baber, Presiding Bishop of the Second Episcopal District. Rev. Leak lovingly thanked the congregation for their patience and time for standing beside and behind him, until the completion of the church facility was done. The Processional “The Church is One Foundation, the opening hymn for the day was Go Preach My Gospel. The program listed all contributors, supporters, patron’s and church members for their devoted support. In his statement he thanked all who gave and those who had the desire to give but were not able to do so, he asked that the blessings of God be upon them all. Though there have been many preachers and members who have entered in through the doors of this fine church and departed, it still holds the humble pious spirit that it began with over 200 plus years ago. On an old sign found here tattered and worn from age were the words, Come Ye From Both Near and Afar, Come Worship With Us, We’ll Leave the Door Ajar. In the back of this fine church still today, there is one door on the left side that never closes tightly unless it’s locked. We believe it is still waiting for someone to enter” the door 200 plus years later” is still ajar.
God Bless the Ebenezer Church Family
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37659 Ebenezer Way, Mechanicsville, MD 20659 I 301-884-8879
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