More News

Visitors followed the path of Frederick's history as they climbed the winding stairs inside the Trinity Chapel of Frederick's Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ.

They walked by the grave of the pastor who baptized Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star-Spangled Banner," and marveled at the 10 Trinity bells, which have chimed at Sunday services since 1893.

Built in 1807, Trinity Chapel's colonial steeple is the oldest of the "clustered spires of Frederick" and the oldest in the State of Maryland. It towered above the city centuries ago, when residents relied on the town clock to keep track of time.

"It was the tallest point in the city — everyone could see it," said Bud Rossig, a church parishioner.

The church and chapel were among the 13 historic places of worship in downtown Frederick, which opened their doors to visitors from the local and Washington, D.C. metro area on Monday for the 23rd Annual Candlelight Tour of Historic Houses of Worship.

The event allowed visitors to travel through time and space, as they explored the sites of worship where Barbara Fritchie, Francis Scott Key, Abraham Lincoln and Stonewall Jackson said prayers and attended services.

Behind the doors of each historic church visitors discovered the varied architectural styles that inspired Frederick's early settlers — from the classic cathedral style of the Cavalry United Methodist Church, to the German Gothic Revival building of the All Saints Episcopal Church and the East-European style synagogue of the Beth Sholom congregation.

Organized by the Tourism Council of Frederick County, the self-guided tour attracted hundreds of visitors, who came in from near and far to explore the rich history and unique architecture of downtown Frederick's historic religious sites.

The event originally started with about eight sites, but has grown over the years, said Patsy Ensminger, of the Tourism Council. Typically the tour attracts anywhere between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors, and it is an opportunity for churches to showcase their buildings, their history and holiday decorations, Ensminger said.

"It's an open house," she said. "The neat thing is that it is all walking downtown. You don't have to walk anywhere."

At each site, dozens of volunteers and parishioners welcomed hundreds of visitors, eager to show off their house of worship and share stories about its place in local and national history. Each church had a different story to tell.

At the Frederick Presbyterian Church for example, visitors walked the steps of President Abraham Lincoln , who visited in 1825, when the church served as hospital for the wounded in battles during the Civil War.

Barbara Fritchie, the Unionist war heroine, who inspired John Greenleaf Whittier's famous 1864 poem, attended services at the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ. According to the poem, Fritchie waved Union flag to antagonize Stonewall Jackson's Confederate troops as they marched by her house through Frederick.

On Sept. 7 1862, Jackson himself also attended services at the same church, because he could not find a Presbyterian church in the area. Fritchie attended the same service and some local historians speculate that it may have been at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ rather than at Fritchie's house where the 90-year-old Fredericktonian supposedly gave the Confederate General a piece of her mind.

Only a few blocks down the street, visitors marveled at the elegant arches and colorful strained glass windows of neo-gothic All Saints Episcopal Church. Founded in 1742, the parish boasts famous members such as Maryland's first governor, Thomas Johnson, and Francis Scott Key.

The church, which was built in 1855, has been a part of most of Frederick's history and even served as a hospital during the battle of Antietam.

"Many of the churches in Frederick were used as hospitals," said All Saints parishioner Darlene Aulls. "They would put boards over the benches and use that for the wounded."

Aulls, who has volunteered for years to usher visitors for the tour, said the event attracts locals, who want to learn more about the city, as well as many out-of-towners.

"This attracts everybody," she said. "It's an interesting city and it is an interesting group of buildings. There aren't many places where you can see that."

Donna and Thomas Hawk agreed. The couple said they have been coming to Frederick from Columbia especially for the event for at least eight years.

"You see something different every time," Donna Hawk said.

E-mail Margarita Raycheva at mraycheva@gazette.net.