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Middleham and St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish

Middleham and St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish includes two chapels and a parish hall.  Middleham Chapel in Lusby, founded in 1684, was formed as a chapel of ease by Christ Church Port Republic.  It is one of the oldest Episcopal churches in Maryland.  St. Peter’s Chapel on Solomons Island was founded in 1889.  Both Saint Peter’s and Middleham remained chapels in Christ Church Parish until 1900. In 1900 Middleham and Saint Peter’s became a Diocesan Mission and were separated from Christ Church Parish. The two chapels became a parish in 1978. Middleham and St. Peter’s is one church family with two historic chapels on two campuses several miles apart.

Outreach ministries are the backbone of the parish.  SMILE Ecumenical Ministries and their pantry and thrift shop on our Middleham campus.  Outreach ministries include a community garden, food distribution to the region and to schools through the Heartfelt backpack program.  We support health services for children in Haiti through the Haiti School Nurse program.  We invite the region to come together to address issues of concern through the Big Conversation Partners in Dismantling Racism and Privilege in Southern Maryland.  We provide leadership and are committed to the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition.

General Description of how this organization provides information and resources regarding the history of Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color

Middleham Chapel is 339 years old, and the current brick chapel building was constructed in 1748.  Its history spans nearly the entire history of European settlement in Southern Maryland, including the period of enslavement, reconstruction, Jim Crow, Civil Rights, and up to today.  Parishioners value that history, celebrating their 325th anniversary by compiling a church history. In January 2014, the Episcopal Bishop of Maryland invited parishes with a history going back to the period of slavery to engage in a study of that history.  Middleham and St. Peter’s has actively participated in the project, entitled Trail of Souls, and continues an active involvement in further exploring and sharing that history, and working toward reconciliation with our African American brothers and sisters in Southern Maryland.  The ever-expanding history is accessible through onsite visits, online presentations, and individuals who can share details about the history.

Describe other organizational features

We have several individuals who can share stories and information across a range of topics.

Contact/Location

10210 HG Trueman Road, Lusby, MD 20657
410-326-4948

https://www.mspparish.org/

Hours of Operation

Visitor Center

Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm

Offices and MAC

Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm

Park Grounds

7 days a week, dawn to dusk

The church office hours are – Monday to Thursday 9 – 12 am.  The outside of the chapel and cemetery can be visited at any time.  Call the office at 410-326-4948 to visit the interior of the chapel.

Highlights

Provides information and resources regarding the history of Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color in a variety of formats:

Middleham Chapel is 339 years old, and the current brick chapel building was constructed in 1748. Its history spans nearly the entire h of European settlement in Southern Maryland.
. In January 2014, the Episcopal Bishop of Maryland invited parishes with a history going back to the period of slavery to engage in a study of that history. Middleham and St. Peter’s has actively participated in the project, entitled Trail of Souls, and continues its commitment today.

Archaeological sites with interpretive panels. These sites and panels are accessible on Park trails.

FAQ Archaeology Exhibit in the Visitor’s Center includes segments on pre-contact period sites and on Sukeek’s Cabin site.

JPPM Library has over 15,000 titles relating to all aspects of Maryland’s history. Books do not circulate, but an online catalog is available. Southern Maryland Regional Files are also housed in the MAC Lab.

Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab has over 10 million artifacts spanning from 10,000 years ago until the early-mid 20th century. Portions available online; physical access upon request during MAC Lab hours. Qualifying institutions can borrow artifacts for display or study.

Audio and transcripts of oral histories of local Black families. Available upon request.

Portraits, daguerreotypes, and primary documents of local Black families. Available to view upon request.

Through Ebony Eyes digital exhibit can be viewed on large screendisplay.

Field trip programs for school age children on rural life and sharecropping are scheduled through the Education Department.

Park-wide special events like Discovering Archaeology Day and American Indian Heritage Day are free and open to the public.

Educators, docents, and archaeologists give tours, talks, and participate in outreach programs upon request.

JPPM hosts Calvert County’s NAACP Family and Community Day each June

Explore Resources

Middleham Chapel

Description:
Middleham Chapel and the cemetery are over 335 years old. The bell in the chapel was installed in 1699. The cemetery includes graves from the 1700’s forward to today. It includes a bronze tribute to the enslaved: A memorial to the slaves who were owned by members of Middleham Chapel. Some of these...
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Rural Life in Southern Maryland
Access:

Access

The grounds and cemetery around the chapel are open to the public.  To visit the inside of the chapel, call the church office at 410-326-4948.  The office is open Monday to Thursday 9 – 12 am.

Middleham and St. Peter’s Trail of Souls YouTube

Description:
This YouTube presentation takes you into this 276 year old church and cemetery and tells you its remarkable story of the enslaved and their enslavers. Go to https://www.mspparish.org/trail-of-souls and click on the video....
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Diversity in Southern Maryland
Access:

The YouTube of Chapel’s history is available online.  Middleham and St. Peter’s | Trail of Souls (mspparish.org)

 

One More River to Cross

Description:
This story is all the more remarkable because it happened right here in Southern Calvert and showed the complete lack of justice for the enslaved. It also showed the amazing perseverance of Brown.
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Civic Ideas and Action, Diversity in Southern Maryland
Access:

Available in hardback and kindle.  In the Calvert Historical Society.

A History of Middleham and St Peter’s Parish: Sharing Our Story 1684-2009

Description:
Middleham Chapel was founded in 1684 as a chapel of Ease by Christ Church Port Republic, just 50 years after the arrival of the first English settlers. This book tells the story of the founding through he present time....
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Diversity in Southern Maryland, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Rural Life in Southern Maryland

Trail of Souls at Middleham and St. Peters: Uncovering the History of Slavery in Southern Calvert County

Description:
This document includes extensive information regarding enslavement in Southern Calvert with a focus on those enslaved by Middleham parishioners.
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Diversity in Southern Maryland, Rural Life in Southern Maryland
Access:

The chapel grounds and the cemetery are open and available to visit any time.  There is a trail marker in front of the chapel.  To go inside the chapel, contact the church office at 410-326-4948.

Middleham and St. Peter’s Cemetery

Description:
The cemetery dates back to the beginning of the chapel in 1684. Several rude stones are attributed to graves for the enslaved. A bronze memorial acknowledges and repents for their treatment.
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Themes:
African American People and Culture, Diversity in Southern Maryland, Rural Life in Southern Maryland

St. Peter’s Chapel on Solomons Island

Description:
St. Peter's Episcopal Chapel is part of today's Middleham and St. Peter's Episcopal Parish. Built in 1889, it was part of all of the changes that took place in race relations during the late 19th and 20th centuries....
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Themes:
Diversity in Southern Maryland, Rural Life in Southern Maryland
Access:

In person visits – outside is always accessible.  Inside needs to be scheduled through the office 410-326-4948.

Timeframe:

Early to mid-20th century

Themes:

African American People and Culture, Indigenous People and Culture, Diversity in Southern Maryland, People, Places, and Our Southern Maryland Environment, Women’s History

Access:

During open hours for JPPM Visitor Center: Wed-Sunday, 10am-4pm. Contact Visitor Center at [email protected] or 410-586-8538.

Description:

Located at the Visitor Center, this exhibit shows a number of archaeological artifacts from across the state of Maryland, with detailed panels on a pre-contact period site (and its environment) and on the Sukeek’s Cabin site.

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faq archaeology

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Equity in History Coalition

The Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition is a transformative collaboration of local organizations and educational institutions, committed to elevating the history of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in our region.

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This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
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