Trinity Episcopal Church
History

A Short History of Trinity Episcopal Church, compiled by Anne Sasscer.

In 1810 local Anglicans founded Trinity Episcopal Church to fill the need for worship in the town of Upper Marlborough. Churches as close as St. Thomas and St. Barnabas were a long carriage drive away over rough and often impassible roads.
On August 13, 1810, the newly formed vestry elected the Rt. Rev. Thomas John Claggett of "Croom" near Upper Marlborough as the first rector of Trinity Church. Bishop Claggett was ordained Deacon and Presbyter in 1768 by the Bishop of London and in 1792 he was consecrated Bishop Maryland at Trinity Church, New York City, by Bishops Seabury, Provost, White and Madison, thus becoming the first Episcopal Bishop to be consecrated in America. He was appointed Chaplain of the U.S. Senate in 1800.
Bishop Claggett established his new Marlborough church in an abandoned wooden Presbyterian building built in 1704 on a half acre conveyed to the Patuxent Congregation by Ninian Beall from his grant called Meadows. The frame church and the land upon which Trinity is situated was deeded to the new Episcopal congregation by Mr. David Craufurd, a prosperous merchant of "Kingston," the historic house on the hill above the monument at the west end of Main Street.
In his Notitiae 24 May, 1809 to Jun 1810, Bishop Claggett sounds pleased: "Public worship is well attended here, the responses are audibly made by almost the whole of the congregation, and the rubrics are still more pleasing, an evident reformation in the manners of this people hath certainly taken place."
It was not until July 16, 1812, that Bishop Claggett officially consecrated Trinity Church. It was, of course, a time of great upheaval. Margin reference notes in the vestry minutes of May, 1814, indicate that British troops camped in the church, tore out pages from the minutes book and prevented the vestry from meeting.
Bishop Claggett continued to serve as rector until his death August 3, 1816. He left in his will money for a silver communion service still in regular use today. It was made by Charles A. Burnett of Alexandria, a well known American silversmith. Part of the Latin inscription composed for the Bishop's grave by Francis Scott Key reads: "He ruled the church with firmness and faithfulness, and adorned it with his character; he left an honored name to his church and country."
By 1846, the congregation had outgrown the original frame building and the vestry hired Robert Cary Long, Jr., a prominent Baltimore architect, to design a new church, the plans for which were approved in February of that year. The William R. McNeil Company of Alexandria was contracted to build the church at a cost of $4,000.
Bricks were ferried across the Potomac and hauled by oxen along Alexandria Ferry Road to Upper Marlborough. A contract provision assured that if the church was not completed by October 1, 1846, there would be a daily penalty of five dollars. The work fell behind and the vestry hired local contractors to finish construction. On December 31, 1846, the Rt. Rev. William R. Whittingham, Bishop of Maryland, consecrated the present brick building.
The Prince George's Enquirer writes, "The pews were distributed by lot; all who subscribed $100 or more having had the first choice, and next those who paid $50. Ten free pews were designated by the Vestry."
In 1896, on the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of this building, the bell tower was added to the front of the church. The contractor was John C. Yost of Washington and, according to The Prince George's Enquirer, September 25, 1896, Mr. Yost unlike his predecessor in '46 "has tried to give entire satisfaction." The contract price, excluding new floors was $1,700. The same local paper writes on September 25, 1896:
"The improvements now being made consist of a beautiful brick tower in front, a new floor, handsome pews in ash, thorough painting inside and out, frescoing of walls and ceiling, and graining of organ and inside woodwork to correspond with new furniture. It has all been done with city mechanics and the best materials have been used."
In 1975 a bequest from Charles Clagett made possible the construction of the Clagett Building which is connected to the church by a covered walk.
In 1985 under the Rev. Halsey Stevens III, the well known architect, James T. Wollon, Jr., of Havre de Grace, began the restoration of the church building and on January 4, 1987, the completely restored church was rededicated by the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker, Bishop of Washington, celebrating the 140th anniversary of the consecration of the brick church just past.
The grounds surrounding the church have been used as a cemetery since the old Presbyterian congregation worshiped at the site. The oldest grave, not far from the sacristy door, bears the name of John Moore, a soldier in the Revolutionary War who died in 1793. The present Trinity Cemetery on Rectory Lane was established in 1885 and enlarged in 1939.
Editors Note: The latest addition to Trinity, a handicapped ramp to allow access to the parish hall, was completed in 2004.

A Short History of Trinity Episcopal Church, compiled by Anne Sasscer.
In 1810 local Anglicans founded Trinity Episcopal Church to fill the need for worship in the town of Upper Marlborough. Churches as close as St. Thomas and St. Barnabas were a long carriage drive away over rough and often impassible roads. On August 13, 1810, the newly formed vestry elected the Rt. Rev. Thomas John Claggett of "Croom" near Upper Marlborough as the first rector of Trinity Church. Bishop Claggett was ordained Deacon and Presbyter in 1768 by the Bishop of London and in 1792 he was consecrated Bishop Maryland at Trinity Church, New York City, by Bishops Seabury, Provost, White and Madison, thus becoming the first Episcopal Bishop to be consecrated in America. He was appointed Chaplain of the U.S. Senate in 1800. Bishop Claggett established his new Marlborough church in an abandoned wooden Presbyterian building built in 1704 on a half acre conveyed to the Patuxent Congregation by Ninian Beall from his grant called Meadows. The frame church and the land upon which Trinity is situated was deeded to the new Episcopal congregation by Mr. David Craufurd, a prosperous merchant of "Kingston," the historic house on the hill above the monument at the west end of Main Street. In his Notitiae 24 May, 1809 to Jun 1810, Bishop Claggett sounds pleased: "Public worship is well attended here, the responses are audibly made by almost the whole of the congregation, and the rubrics are still more pleasing, an evident reformation in the manners of this people hath certainly taken place." It was not until July 16, 1812, that Bishop Claggett officially consecrated Trinity Church. It was, of course, a time of great upheaval. Margin reference notes in the vestry minutes of May, 1814, indicate that British troops camped in the church, tore out pages from the minutes book and prevented the vestry from meeting. Bishop Claggett continued to serve as rector until his death August 3, 1816. He left in his will money for a silver communion service still in regular use today. It was made by Charles A. Burnett of Alexandria, a well known American silversmith. Part of the Latin inscription composed for the Bishop's grave by Francis Scott Key reads: "He ruled the church with firmness and faithfulness, and adorned it with his character; he left an honored name to his church and country." By 1846, the congregation had outgrown the original frame building and the vestry hired Robert Cary Long, Jr., a prominent Baltimore architect, to design a new church, the plans for which were approved in February of that year. The William R. McNeil Company of Alexandria was contracted to build the church at a cost of $4,000. Bricks were ferried across the Potomac and hauled by oxen along Alexandria Ferry Road to Upper Marlborough. A contract provision assured that if the church was not completed by October 1, 1846, there would be a daily penalty of five dollars. The work fell behind and the vestry hired local contractors to finish construction. On December 31, 1846, the Rt. Rev. William R. Whittingham, Bishop of Maryland, consecrated the present brick building. The Prince George's Enquirer writes, "The pews were distributed by lot; all who subscribed $100 or more having had the first choice, and next those who paid $50. Ten free pews were designated by the Vestry." In 1896, on the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of this building, the bell tower was added to the front of the church. The contractor was John C. Yost of Washington and, according to The Prince George's Enquirer, September 25, 1896, Mr. Yost unlike his predecessor in '46 "has tried to give entire satisfaction." The contract price, excluding new floors was $1,700. The same local paper writes on September 25, 1896: "The improvements now being made consist of a beautiful brick tower in front, a new floor, handsome pews in ash, thorough painting inside and out, frescoing of walls and ceiling, and graining of organ and inside woodwork to correspond with new furniture. It has all been done with city mechanics and the best materials have been used." In 1975 a bequest from Charles Clagett made possible the construction of the Clagett Building which is connected to the church by a covered walk. In 1985 under the Rev. Halsey Stevens III, the well known architect, James T. Wollon, Jr., of Havre de Grace, began the restoration of the church building and on January 4, 1987, the completely restored church was rededicated by the Rt. Rev. John T. Walker, Bishop of Washington, celebrating the 140th anniversary of the consecration of the brick church just past. The grounds surrounding the church have been used as a cemetery since the old Presbyterian congregation worshiped at the site. The oldest grave, not far from the sacristy door, bears the name of John Moore, a soldier in the Revolutionary War who died in 1793. The present Trinity Cemetery on Rectory Lane was established in 1885 and enlarged in 1939. Editors Note: The latest addition to Trinity, a handicapped ramp to allow access to the parish hall, was completed in 2004.

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