The Beginning of the Layhill Community and Oak Chapel
The 1839 School and the Church through the 1900's
The Church from 1940 through 1980
Oak Chapel from 1985 through 1996
Including our vision for the 21st century and John Dye's Painting of Oak Chapel
1996 to Today
- The Bud Myers Memorial Fellowship Hall Statue
- Our Chapel Christmas Ornament
- The continuing history and our Tree of Life
For more local history resources visit the United Methodist Historical Society of the Baltimore-Washington Conference Lovely Lane Museum Library http://www.loc.gov/rr/main/religion/umhs.html
Our Cemetery (Genealogy)
The oldest grave marker gives the year of 1820. There are no known records of all of the grave sites. However we are in the process of researching and refurbishing our cemetery and you can read more about it via the article "Our Cemetery". You can also review the list of known gravestones.
Maryland History and Our History, The Beginning of the Layhill Community and Oak Chapel
"Amidst the Oaks, so tall, so strong, a little Chapel rises"
-- M. Hastings 1978
And, yes, also amidst the multiple changes of land use and roadways taking place all around us, our little church still stands right where it was built one hundred years ago. We know it and love it as Oak Chapel United Methodist Church,and it has been specified as an historic landmark by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Maryland Historic Trust because it is representative of the small Victorian country churches that dotted Montgomery County following the Civil War.
At this time of our Centennial Celebration, it is fitting to document, in a short history, some of the milestones of our development. Many people have figured in the active life of Oak Chapel, small though it is, during the century. Some of them have lived long enough to give us first hand insight into the early years of our church. Tracing land deeds, bills of sale, dates of dedications, succession of minister, etc., through old records, has produced valuable information for outlining our march through time to the present day.
Our site is a part of the original Land Grant called "Lahill" givento James Beall by Archibald Edmontson on August 6, 1716, under the rule of King CharIes II. Taking a giant leap forward from that date picture, if you will,the Lay Hill (note change of spelling) area of 100 years ago. —No shopping center, no country club, no paved roads or stop lights, no electricity or runningwater. Only large farms and small roads were here, and every house, schoolhouse, mill (both grist and saw), church, store, post office and blacksmith shop were important enough to be shown on an 1879 map.
Families with names like George Bonifant Sr., (both sides of Bonifant Road), T.F. and G.W. Cashell (where Argyle Country Club now is), Elizabeth Beall, Oliver and Jacob Van Horn, Sam Jefferson, John R. Champagne, Basil and Nathan Mullican surrounded our site. The families of Jacob Kemp, Ed Rabbitt, Smith and Weller also lived nearby. There was a store where Atwood Road meets Layhill Road, first operated by Mr. Kemp in the building that is now the Anderson house. A blacksmith's shop was on the corner now occupied by the Sandy Spring Bank.
Even road names have changed during the past century. Argyle Club Road was named West Cashell Road on an early deed for the church property and it may have originally connected with what is now called Norbeck Road. Layhill Road was known as the Norwood Pike and it intersected the Old Baltimore Road at Holland's Corner (most recently the site of the Red Door Store).
The congregation posed for this photograph taken in front of the church in 1951. The Rev. James Coan is standing near the door of the chapel.
"How Firm a Foundation"
-- George Keith
The people of Lay Hill wanted a church. The year was 1886 and the date was Oct. 26 when, Pursuant to Act of the General Assembly of Maryland, the following Articles of Incorporation of the Trustees of Lay Hill Methodist Episcopal Church, South were recorded..."Basil Mullican (Esther Thompson's grandfather) offered a piece of land from his600-acre farm, and he conveyed 107 square perches of land for $5.00 (we have thedeed) to the original Board of Trustees, George Bonifant Sr., Andrew Johnson Cashell, John George Yewel Cashell, James William Godfrey, and Bennett RufusWilkerson, "for proper use and benefit in fee simple so long as it shall be used as a place of divine worship."
Then began the work of construction. Fieldstone for the foundation of the building was hauled from around the neighborhood by ox-cart, according tostories told Esther by her father, Arthur Mullican. Arthur, as a boy of 10 or11, helped in the effort. Timber was felled and donated by George Bonifant Sr.from his land, and the boards were made at John Kisner's saw mill. Van Horn didthe plastering over wooden lath. There were broad floor boards and tongue-in-groove wainscotting. Architecturally, the chapel can be described asone bay by three bays and one and a half stories. The south projecting pavilion is gabled and is one story. There is a small lean-to addition on the east. The cornerstone was laid on April 10, 1887.
People came to worship from near and far - as far away as Derwood - by horse and buggy, team and wagon, horseback or on foot. Often the entire day Sunday was spent going around to the different churches within reach for preaching, singing or meetings. Attending church, then as now, was a social opportunity as well as spiritual nourishment. Sally Leibig Gridley (granddaughter of George Bonifant Sr.), who grew up along Bonifant Road about where the Trolley Museum is now, remembers her aunt, Pinky Wilson, driving a horse and buggy to the church and hitching the horse to the big oak trees. Bessie Gates, a Bonifant Road resident for 71 years, remembers going to afternoon services with her aunt, Frances Gates, when Ed Beall (Imogene's husband's grandfather) would sit on the"short bench by the heat stove" and keep the fire going during services. Bessie was baptized by the Rev. J.W. Mitchell and confirmed by the Rev. H. S. Myerly.
Florence Turner has no trouble at all recalling that she walked many times from Glenmont to the Church to start the fire in the woodburning stove so that the building would be warm when the people came for the service. And Gladys Beall Brigham remembers the pews. She says they were "very narrow, straight and hard." All of these ladies, who were recently interviewed, also attendedthe Lay Hill School which stood near the church for many years.
Lay Hill Methodist Episcopal Church South recorded its incorporation papers in Rockville in 1886. The church at Colesville had begun its life twenty years earlier (1866) as Andrew Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church South. Both were on a circuit with nine others, served by horseback-riding pastor until 1904. At that time the three-point Colesville Charge was established with Lay Hill, Four Corners (now Marvin Memorial), and Colesville sharing one minister, the first being the Rev.B. L. Parrott.
From 1943 when Four Corners became a Station Church, until 1947, we were on the two-point Colesville Charge. In 1945, Colesville gave us $500 for our interest in the Colesville parsonage. That money probably helped us buy the old school property. In 1947, Colesville became a Station Church and the Conference appointed a student minister to Lay Hill. On October 31,1948, according to minutes of a meeting of the congregation, it was voted that the name of the church be changed from Lay Hill to Oak Chapel. This name was suggested by the Rev. James Haskins as one that would clearly distinguish us from the Lay Hill Free Methodist Church which had come into being (about 1915) on Bonifant Road. The name change, however,was not recorded as an amendment to the Incorporation Papers in Rockville until 1968. Baltimore Conference records carried both names during this 20 year period.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the Methodist Protestant Church united in 1939. The words "Episcopal" and "South" were dropped from our name at that time. The word "United" was added in1968 when the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches united. Thuswe are known today as the Oak Chapel United Methodist Church.
The 1839 School and the Church through the 1900's
The Rev. Paul H. Groseclose sits in front of the church with a number of other church members in this early 1940’s photograph.
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor"
--Matthew 19:19
The Lay Hill Academy was founded as a result of the 1839 Primary School Act, which established the first state-wide guidelines for education. Initially known as School 4, District 5, its first trustees were: Richard J. Anderson, Eden Beale and John Rabbitt. There were at least three other schools in District 5 and a district-wide census of children who would be eligible for the primary grades through third grade in 1839 found 88 pupils. Little is known about the academy except that by 1859 the half-acre property which included a one-room school house was owned by Sam Bevin, who deeded it to the Montgomery School Board. Following the Civil War, the school board was reorganized and recorded the deed. In 1890, the old building was torn down and a new school house was built at the cost of $450. The new structure was 22 by 36-feet in size, making it substantially larger than most one-room schools in the county at the time. New furniture was purchased which added $50 to the building’s cost.
The school house faced west, and the door was not centered but was nearer the north corner of the building. Each side of the one room had a closet with hooks for coats and nail for a drinking cup. Some of the teachers who served there were Mr. Watkins (who also helped out with the music at the church), Miss Brown (who wasn’t afraid to use a stick), and Miss Ocie Dodd (fondly remembered by Gladys Brigham). The school was closed in 1926 when the Glenmont Elementary School opened, and the building and one-half- acre of land were bought by Linda and Frank Willson Sr. In 1930, Frank Sr. hand-dug a well 60 feet deep and lined it with tile. Until then, there was no water at the building. Laura and Hamilton Burns lived in the converted building. It was electrified in 1939. In February, 1945, the building and one-half acre were purchased by the church.
Florence Turner remembers that the church "got the money up" to do this. She went to the bank in Silver Spring (Suburban Trust) and asked for money. They gave. The church people could only raise $1500 of the $1800 asking price, so they took it to Mr. Willson, who generously said that the "rest would be his share."
A kitchen was made in the old school (the well and hand pump were outside), and church dinners were held there. Ada Ray remembers that the first dinner she helped out with was there (about 1955).
In 1957, the old school was torn down by Joe Butco Sr. He says that the well-seasoned timbers were "true saw mill 2 x 4's," the ceiling was old lattice type and the floor was made of logs. Wooden pegs had been used instead of nails. Joe said in reusing the lumber to build an addition to the side of his home he broke three saw blades and had to drill holes first in order to drive nails. Some of the foundation stone was used by Joe to build steps leading to the lean-to hallway on the east side of the building. Part of the school’s brick walk-way remains at the edge of the front parking lot. Joe Butco also used some of the lumber for a shelter for the bell, which had been given by Elsie Allen in honor of Maude Leizear. The bell was later moved to a stanchion beside the front door of the church. In 1978, when the wooden stanchion began to deteriorate, it was replaced with heavier, treated timbers by Mr. Francis Farrar and the Garritty family.
Another building that figured in the history of Oak Chapel was the Lay Hill Community Hall. Made of logs and located across Layhill Road from the church, the exact dates of this structure are unknown, but it is thought that the Ladies Aid and Missionary Society (which became the WSCS in 1939) bought it in 1914 and sold it in 1923. In the interim, the ladies cooked and served oyster dinners there in the Fall of the year. Bessie Gates recalls from her childhood that her aunt helped prepare the food. The Free Methodists first met in the log building and "in a tent up by the store." It is believed that Buck McIntosh bought the building and tore it down to build several small houses in that area.
THE MIDDLE YEARS
"We are climbing Jacob’s ladder"
-- African-American Spiritual
As the Great American Depression in the mid-1930’s drew to a close, Oak Chapel experienced the lowest point in its history. In 1935-? young Rev. Paul Groseclose and his bride, Virginia, came to be pastor of the three-point Colesville Charge. Mrs. Groseclose remembers the couple would come to Lay Hill Church at 2:30 Sunday afternoons and that 12 to 20 persons would attend the service.
In 1939, during their tenure, our church was electrified, and Mrs. Groseclose rescued an old brass oil lamp that was being thrown out. It is in her son’s home today.
Although the church was never officially closed, there was a three-month period in 1937 when there was very little activity. Florence Turner recalls that she had to make special arrangements with Rev. Groseclose to open the church for her father’s funeral in October of that year. Then things began to get better. When Rev. Groseclose reopened the church for services, there were six present. For a while he preached once a month on Sunday afternoons. In 1939 the Sunday School was re-established, with Florence as superintendent. We have records of prayer meetings on Thursday nights being popular and inspiring in the years 1941-1944.
History from 1940 through the 1980’s
THE GROWTH YEARS
"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."
--II Timothy 2:15
In 1940 the first addition, a much needed education building, was added. Joe Butco Sr. was the builder, with subcontractors. It had bathroom and kitchen facilities, and the Rev. Bob Klein (1954-56) lived in the smaller of the two upstairs room for a time. More land was added to church holdings in 1955 when approximately three acres were purchased from the Ludingtons, whose property adjoined ours to the north.
The Layhill (note change of spelling to one word as it has apparently "just evolved") neighborhood was changing character as the tentacles of suburban growth began to reach out. Young families with a modern pioneer spirit bought lots in newly subdivided land and built their homes. These families became the "new locals," and they joined the "old locals" (families like the Myers, Bealls, Paxtons, Butcos, Atwoods and Weavers) to work together for continued growth. In 1960, an attractive brick parsonage was built under the chairmanship of Roland Ebner. It cost $26,000. The first people to occupy the parsonage were the Rev. and Mrs. Gary M. Stees. Gary was a student minister.
The parsonage helped to put us into a new growth phase. Our membership doubled between 1962 and 1968 The Church School, under Joan Quass, had an enrollment of 110. It was not limited to children and youth, for Rachel Eakin, among others, taught an adult class for many years. There were 24 in the Women’s Society of Christian Service and a full time choir of 16 loyal souls. The Tavenner family occupied the parsonage from 1962-65. They were followed by the McCauleys (1965-69). Dreams began to be dreamed about a large and beautiful sanctuary that would seat 288 people. Work with an architect was begun.
But architects are expensive and building costs were soaring. Reality, in the form of financial reports by Esther Thompson (Church Financial Secretary for 22 years), dictated that dreams be rethought and plans changed. The congregation voted to renovate the sanctuary and build a second education building with good kitchen facilities to handle the popular church dinners, then being served twice a year.
Much work and activity ensued. One of the first projects was to take down the old chimney in the middle of the east wall, which had served the woodburning stove. John Dye helped Francis Farrar do this job. A long lasting and major undertaking was replacement of the pews. We purchased used pews from a Jewish synagogue. The pews were made of oak and contoured comfortably, but the finish was gone and they were too long. All but one had to be cut down about two or three feet. Then they had to be stripped and refinished. Men of the church, led by John Dye, worked in the basement of the Education building. They stripped one or two pews and then decided to have it done in Rockville. Roland Ebner hauled them two or three at a time in his truck. The firm only charged $15 a pew. Back in the basement workshop, the pews were sanded (ladies helped, too), stained, and refinished before being proudly placed in the sanctuary. They all bear plaques with donors names. A post-script to the pew story is that the old straight pine pews were removed to the graveyard side of the church where Sam Hastings, recognizing that 14" and 16" pine lumber, well seasoned, was not only historic but useful as well, bought and dismantled the pews (with the help of the whole family) for use as paneling in their home. The Hastings also have an early American style desk, hand-crafted in 1971 by J. Lewis Moore of Sandy Spring (son of S. Brooke Moore) at a cost of $300, made from these pine boards.
One of our members, Leonard Fitzgerald, was instrumental in engineering the project of insulating under the sanctuary building and of redoing the front wall. The men took down the lattice-type backdrop behind the altar and put up metal lath over the old wall. This was covered with plasterboard to present a new surface. A hung ceiling of acoustic tile was installed.
On Mother’s Day, 1970, the renovated Sanctuary was ready—with new dossal cloth, new draperies at the windows, new carpeting, new hymnals, new choir robes and new pews. Also, about this time exterior, double doors of oak replaced the old white-painted ones.
And in June, 1970, ground-breaking for the new education building (with church member Francis Farrar as contractor) took place. The Rev. William Bice was pastor, and the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Lyons, District Superintendent, attended the ceremony. The new building was dedicated in 1971, and we were on our way up the ladder for another decade. During this time the Rev. J. Lee Williams, serving the last five years of a 50-year ministry, was our pastor. With a memorable celebration, we marked his retirement. April 14, 1979, brought a disastrous set-back when fire broke out in the basement of the old education building at 5:30 a.m. the day before Easter. Three fire companies responded quickly. Even so, damage was estimated at $50,000. Church members had help from the Colesville Lions Club in cleaning up the smoke and water damage.
Renovation time again! Francis was equal to the task. We had to have new windows this time because the intense heat had shattered the antique glass. Getting windows that fit the openings perfectly was not possible, and hence we have the small transoms at the top of each window. John Dye painted all of these doublehung, nine over-nine pane windows, and Florence Turner (83 years old at the time) did the razor blade cleaning to remove paint from the glass. Half-inch wallboard was put up over existing walls of lath and plaster to hold plaster up and give a new surface. The ceiling was opened to full height again. The steel rods running from wall to wall (integral to the original structural design) were encased in wood to look like beams.
Sunday worship services were held at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, located off Bel Pre Road, for several months until we moved back to our own redecorated church on Dec. 2, 1979. The rededication was March 2, 1980.
In 1982, average Sunday attendance was again down to less than 20 persons, the minister was receiving Equitable Salary Support from the annual conference, and the church was unable to pay its full apportionments. Faced with a bleak financial future, the church again received a student pastor, the Rev. James Skillington.
And again, the church began to revive. On Thanksgiving Day, in 1982, we served more than 35 needy people a Thanksgiving dinner of country ham and turkey and all the trimmings.
In 1983, with average church attendance at more than 30 we finished paying off the mortgage on the parsonage. The Rev. Wilson Shearer, assistant to the Bishop of Baltimore Conference, officiated at the Mortgage Burning service on Oct. 16. Mr. Joe Butco Sr., the only living signer of that document, participated in the service.
A fund-raising drive in 1984 brought in more than $4000, which was used to purchase a new gas furnace for the church. And memorial fund monies were used to purchase a large bulletin-board lawn sign which was installed along Layhill Road. A food closet helped to provide food to the needy in the Wheaton area as Oak Chapel delivered food for Wheaton HELP that summer.
Also in 1984, the church paid its apportionments in full for the first time in its history. In 1985, the church again paid its apportionments in full and was able to replace the roof on the sanctuary. The roofing project funds came largely from a thrift shop run by the ladies. Also, that year we hooked-up to public sewer at a cost of nearly $8000. In 1986, the church went off of Equitable Salary Support, which means Oak Chapel paid the full cost of the minister’s salary. It was the necessary first step back to becoming a full-time Station Church. This was possible largely due to a lease of the Education Building to Friends Elementary School, which brought in nearly $7,000 per year.
Also we began Saturday evening services in April as an experiment, the less formal 6:30 p.m. service is attracting a growing group of worshippers. A puppet ministry under the supervision of Tom and Jane McKenna, provide the children s message during our Sunday services.
In addition, funds raised as part of the Centennial effort, paid for a new hanging cross in the sanctuary. Other memorial gifts in 1986 have purchased ornaments for the sanctuary, including new vases, baptismal bowl, offering plates and candle tops.
The United Methodist Women (formerly called the WSCS) has been the backbone of the church. They have served in many ways, not the least of which is using the proceeds from their money-raising projects (chiefly the Spring and Fall Dinners) to pay a multitude of bills -everything from the minister’s salary and the mortgage payments to the fuel and electricity bills -- always promoting fellowship along the way.
The dinners have been important to the church. Until 1923, oyster dinners were held in the old Lay Hill Community Hall. Then, from 1922 to 1945, we held joint dinners with Colesville. When the dinners returned to Layhill they were held in the School House at first, but in 1951 moved to the first education building. In 1970, when the last addition was finished, the kitchen was expanded and more seating was available.
A whole book could be written revealing the leadership and culinary expertise of stalwarts like Imogene Beall (of lemon pie fame), Laura Butco and Ada Ray. The Methodist Men, organized under Bud Meyers, were active for a number of years. Some of their services were cooking and serving pancake breakfasts, organizing and carrying out the church lawn care in the summer, and general building maintenance. Of course they were always on hand to help with carving and clean-up at the church dinners.
A small group of faithful women have served to provide and arrange altar flowers to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas and Easter and even to drive to the florist to pick up the altar flowers, thereby saving the cost of delivery.
For the size of the church we have always had a very dedicated and very good music department. Miss Dove Pitzer who came in 1955 and served as organist for 18 years, helped establish the musical tradition.Dove remembers that there was an old pump organ there when she began. In the 1970’s the present organ was purchased from another church.
Mrs. Bobbi Walker served as our organist for several years, leaving in 1983. And Mrs. Jane McKenna has served as our organist since 1984. Several times Judy Sansone has "volunteered" to "fill-in" between organists for months or years at a time.
The United Methodist Youth Fellowship has flourished or waned depending on the number of youths in the congregation at the time. Some of the leaders of the UMYF have been: Jean McCauley, Ralph and Betty Wilbur, Don Markle, Harvey and Rose Breidenbaugh, Doug McIlwee and Tom McKenna. Nancy Myers and Ada Ray, assisted by Norma McIlwee and Linda Myers are providing leadership in our Sunday School this year.
COMMUNITY USE OF BUILDINGS
"Do unto others..."
--Luke 6:31
As the community has grown there have been many opportunities to show neighborliness by allowing others the use of the buildings. In 1960 the Seventh Day Adventists met at Oak Chapel until their nearby church was constructed. Later, during Rev. McCauley’s term (1965-69), the custom of a three-way Thanksgiving Service with SDA and the Layhill Free Methodist Church was begun on a rotat-ing basis.
The Gaywood Garden Club, founded in 1955, has held plant sales, flower shows, bazaars and occasional monthly meetings at the church. They have recipro-cated with gifts and landscaping projects, the largest of which was the planning and planting of the par-sonage landscaping in 1961.
The Allenwood-Gayfields-Willson Hills Civic Association holds its semiannual meetings here, and the Montgomery County Chapter of the Stepfamily Association of America meets monthly at the church. A thrift shop, operated for nearly three years by the ladies of the church, raised about $4000, which was used to replace the sanctuary roof and to fund other needed projects. It was closed in early 1985, when the education building was leased to the elementary school.
THE CEMETERY
"Home is the sailor, home from the sea, and the hunter home from the hill."
-- Requiem by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1884
Little is known about the origins of the church’s cemetery. There are no known records of all of the grave sites. The oldest grave marker gives the year of 1820. Apparently, the plot had been dedicated by the Mullican family to be used "for the poor. "
In 1938, the church was given complete control over the cemetery, according to Quarterly Conference records. And in the 1950’s it was officially closed.
"The heritage of the Past is the seed which brings forth the harvest of the Future."
-- William Shakespeare
See “Our Cemetery” for more specific genealogy information from our cemetery.
In the 1960's as major expansion project was undertaken and completed, the addition of our Education Building. Joyfully the church a "Burn-the-Mortgage" Party in the late 1970's hosted by long time Chairman of the Board, Bud Myers.
See “Fellowship Hall Statue” for more about Bud Myers.
It is impossible to adequately relate the history in a brief telling. There is no way to encompass each year, or recognize everyone’s contribution to our growth and existence. Each, through selfless dedication, made his presence felt and helped make Oak Chapel rich in achievement and tradition.
It has been the dedicated servants of the Lord, toiling in his vineyard, doing his work, which has been the tie that has bound us together and made us stronger. As the congregation goes forth in faith with the spirit of rededication in their Christian ministry, we can look forward to a bountiful harvest as Oak Chapel begins its new century.
Our Vision for the Twenty-First Century, Oak Chapel from 1985 to 1996
"Here We Grow Again"
--Anonymous
Great changes have occurred in the area surrounding Oak Chapel since our l00th Birthday; Layhill has undergone a literal population explosion.
In 1984 the old Argyle Club Road (now obliterated) ran between our chapel and the Argyle golf course. It served seven homes beyond the Argyle Club gate. By 1988, within a one and a half mile radius of Oak Chapel, the post office was adding service to 200 new families each month.
Not only was the number of people in the neighborhood increasing dramatically, but the demographics were also changing. Once we served as a Spiritual and Community center for land-owners and farm workers who "tied their horses to the oak trees." Then we moved through a growth phase fueled by garden-minded suburbanites. Now many families support two careers. Some are headed by a single parent. In either case, there are special needs for children. To keep pace with the many changes around us has been our challenge this past decade.
One major contribution to the community has been the opening, in 1992, of the Oak Chapel Child Development Center, which emphasizes Christian values. The child care program serves about 80, in a before-and-after school program, a kindergarten, and an all-day care center. An interacting relationship benefits both the Center and the Church, with Oak Chapel providing approximately $1,500 in full and partial scholarships each year.
In 1989 Oak Chapel moved from a student to a full-time pastor. Half of the pastor’s salary was subsidized by the Annual Conference that year and the next. This subsidy was eliminated in 1991 when we paid the full salary of the pastor and provided a housing allowance. From 1993 to the present we have paid apportionments in full, meeting or exceeding our budget. Our annual budget has gone from $77,000 in 1990 to over $125,000 in 1996. In 1992 our Missions Statement was modified as follows:
"The mission of Oak Chapel United Methodist Church is to enthusiastically provide support for a relationship with God and the community. We strive to fulfill Christ’s call to share God’s love and reach out to our community to build a congregation that reflects the different ages, ethnic and economic backgrounds of our neighbors. We make a special commitment to children and youth, to respond to their needs, nourish them in God’s love, and plant in their hearts the seeds of a better life and a better world through Christ our Lord. Through the spiritual atmosphere of worship, prayer and fellowship we live as disciples of Jesus and strive to teach the love of God through our words, actions and service to others."
1990 also saw the completion of a successful telephone outreach program. In addition we initiated a second worship service to accommodate the increasing attendance.
The physical plant at Oak Chapel was changing too. In 1989 a handicap ramp was added in front of the church. 1990 saw the conversion of the parsonage into an Administration Building with a caretaker’s apartment and finished basement. The old road was closed, and the new entrance off of Layhill Road was built. We benefitted tremendously when the State agreed to pave our parking lot, and construct a new driveway entrance.
"We Are The Church"
--Methodist Hymnal p.558
The years between 1990 and 1995 were busy. We introduced many outreach programs and modified our facilities, all to better serve our growing congregation and to enhance our presence in the community. Buildings have been painted and maintained, and several of our members "adopted" gardens to maintain. A new sign, given by Lala, Jim and Chip Garritty and friends was contributed in memory of Lala’s parents, A. William and Eulene Huebner, and was dedicated on March 19, 1995. It graciously informs all passers-by just who we are. During this period Oak Chapel opened its doors and warmly received new members. Through it all, we have continued our strong tradition of Christian fellowship with church fairs, suppers, and yard sales. Old friends, and new, have participated in our many programs and activities.
Notable among our programs were the Disciple Study Groups. Participants made two-year commitments to meet every week, September through May. The group drew from beyond our church, and lasting friendships developed. Also a very special event was our trip to the Holy Land in 1993. Ten Oak Chapel members and friends, led by Rev. Richard Bowman, joined with a tour group totaling 32 (seven of whom were ministers) to take a nine day tour of Israel and Egypt. Historic Biblical sites were visited. At each site the group sang an appropriate hymn, read verses from the Bible which spoke of the site and had prayers. At the river Jordan, a moving service of Baptism Rededication was conducted by Rev. Bowman.
Community Outreach Programs, or "Missions," in recent years have included a craft workshop, making quilts for "AIDS babies", supplying disposable diapers to families in need, and providing free fingerprint I.D. kits to parents for their children. We have also prepared meals for students at Wesley Seminary. Maintaining a food closet, and delivering food through Wheaton "HELP", have been ongoing ministries since 1984. Our overseas mission provides partial support to Rev. Bill Lovelace, a Methodist missionary in Russia. We also pledged $500 to Africa University and sent money to the "Burned Churches" fund in 1996.
We participate in the highway litter pick-up campaign, "Adopt-a-Highway." Various civic and community groups meet at Oak Chapel. Our float won a trophy in the annual Layhill Day Parade, and the community looks forward to our Spring Fun Fests. McGruff, the crime fighting dog, makes a popular appearance that day, and the games and booths with goodies for sale provide a gala atmosphere. The Christmas Homes Tour, instituted in 1995, provided a delightful introduction to the Advent Season.
The music ministry at Oak Chapel continues to be exceptional. Our choir, ever faithful, enhances morning worship and special services. A new piano, in memory of Joe Butco, was given in 1988, and the organ, in memory of Donald J. Lindsey, was a gift in 1993.
Our church has felt the impact (positive and negative) of Washington’s transitory nature. Many members and friends have moved away, new members have arrived to take their place. Nothing stays the same. We trust our old friends carry the love of Oak Chapel in their hearts.
"I will lead them in paths that they have not known."
--Isaiah 42:16
Leadership at Oak Chapel in the past decade has been richly rewarding, not only to the church, but also to the providers. Rev. Jim Skillington moved on to a position as Communications Coordinator for the Baltimore Annual Conference, then to Editor of the United Methodist Connection newspaper and Editor of Kaleidoscope Magazine; Art Justice (Lay Leader in 1989) entered seminary studies under the Local Pastor Program; and Rev. Richard Bowman, upon leaving Oak Chapel, was accepted at Fordham University Law School. He intends to apply justice to ecclesiastical matters.
In 1979, long time choir member and dedicated servant of Oak Chapel, John Dye, painted a picture of his beloved Oak Chapel which proudly hangs in the Foyer of the new Fellowship Hall.
"I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon."
--1 Corinthians 3:10
A specially called Church Conference in June of 1990 accepted the report of the Long Range Planning Committee that recommended the formation of a Building Committee. In November the Washington West District Committee on Church Location and Building granted permission for Oak Chapel to proceed with the required survey work. Ron King has been chairman of our Building Committee since its inception.
Although there was much enthusiasm within the congregation for a new building it was soon realized that there were more immediate needs which had to be addressed. The first priority was the reconstruction and alteration of the Education Building in order to accommodate our full time Child Development Center. Funds were contributed and many volunteered their time. Our special thanks to the Martin and Hartlove families for spearheading this project and for their generous financial support. The Hartloves became the Directors of the Center when it was opened.
Most recently, Spring 1994, our Chapel underwent the first major alteration and redecoration since the fire in 1979. Its "Victorian" look was restored. The chapel is now charming, and reflects our reverence to our Lord. The restoration was made possible in part by contributions in memory of Molly Baker and James Kelley and through the dedicated work of many volunteers. The lovely banners, created by Maggie Lake, add special beauty and help to enhance our worship services.
"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it."
--Psalm 127:1
The Building Committee turned again to the major building project in early 1995. They decided to hire a local architect who would be familiar with the codes and requirements of Montgomery County. Intergrated Design Concepts (IDC) of Silver Spring was engaged to develop a Master Plan for Oak Chapel, incorporating any parts of earlier architectural drawings that still seemed appropriate. For six months the committee and architects met almost every Thursday night, resulting in a Master Plan and preliminary drawings of Phase One. These were presented to the Washington West District Board of Church Location and Building on January 29, 1996, and were approved. The next step was for Oak Chapel to vote on proceeding with these plans.
"All things are possible to him that believeth."
--Mark 9:23
With completion nearing on near-by major residential developments, we look forward to the opening of the Glenmont Metro Station in mid 1998. This event will effectively enlarge our neighborhood or "scope of influence" as Layhill Road becomes a major corridor between Glenmont and points to the North. And so, as we move into the next Century, our vision is to BE THERE for more and more people. Oak Chapel expects to break ground for its new multi-purpose building (Phase One of our Master Plan) in 1998 and to greet the new Century prepared. As our current pastor, Rev. William R. Boyer, summed it up, "Our vision for the 21st Century is that of a church with adequate facilities to carry out a full and active ministry in this place for many decades to come. Our vision includes far more than buildings. It includes an ever increasing sense of mission, mission in the community and the world. And, most importantly, it includes an ever deepening love of God. If we keep Jesus first, the buildings will get built, the funds will be raised, and the debt will be paid off. Let us pray to keep all of this in perspective as we step off together into a new millennium." An affirmative vote by our congregation, to proceed with the building plans, was cast on March 3, 1996.
www.OakChapel.com:
Oak Chapel goes High-Tech: The beginning of our World Wide Web Cyber-Ministry.
Our humble website beginnings in 1997 have been eclipsed by an explosion of internet use. The site has grown from a small informational site to a 300+ page site with inspirational Sermons online, current calendars of events, downloadable Newsletters, local History, local Geneological information, and listings of church and local activities. The site is being used by people in over 44 different countries and average of 100 times per day. It is amazing that the things we do and think here in our small community of 150+ families are influencing people all over the world.
"Kum, by yah, my Lord"
--Afro-American Spiritual
Vision for the 21st Century -- Artist's Rendition - Phase I
John Dye’s Painting of Oak Chapel
John Dye was known as "Mr. Oak Chapel" for serving as an ever-present choir member, advisor to various pastors, and for his countless hours of work on behalf of Oak Chapel. His beautiful painting of our Historic Chapel hangs proudly in the Narthex of Fellowship Hall.
History from 1996 to Today
1996 saw the continuation of our fund raising efforts for our building campaign. The cost of the initial design, engineering and permits was approximately $50,000.00. We had to raise the additional down payment of $300,000.00 in order to receive approval for a building loan for the remaining amount of the building cost (about $1,200,000.00.)
(Click picture for a larger version.)
Our little church worked and prayed very hard. We held fund raising events and a large capital campaign. Finally we had the money to begin the process in late 1998. Permits, forgets, "ooph-es," and delays tested our patience and fortitude. We officially broke ground for the project on April 23, 1999. An article in the local newspaper featured Reverend Boyer with a shovel in hand on that beautiful sunny Sunday.
We had a large number of challenges trying to construct this building, a forgotten storm water drainage permit application, a retiring civil engineer, an aging and ailing construction company president, and then the rains...
In the preceding two years before we began building our new Fellowship Hall, the metro Washington D.C. area experienced quite a drought. God favored us by breaking the drought in the spring of 1999 and he gave us large amounts of rain to make up for the low water levels in the water table, area streams, ponds and lakes. This was a wonderful blessing for the trees, plants, fish and animals throughout the Chesapeake Region. However, large amounts of rain are not helpful to construction projects. At one point there were several jokes about having our own Lake Oak Chapel because the construction area was under water for days at a time, several different weeks during the construction process.
(Click picture for a larger version.)
Finally 18 months later, in early 2001, we had the new building dedication. The building has dramatically helped us reach out to the community and it was worth all trials and tribulations during its construction.
We now have a commemorative statue of Fellowship Hall in memory of Bud Myers. (See “Fellowship Hall Statue”)
We also have a very nice Chapel Ornament. (Can be purchased from the office)
The Tree of Life: We embrace our rich history and look forward to expanding our family and future history through our addition of the Tree of Life Plaque located in the Fellowship Hall. Here we commemorate and list the new additions to our history.
Our School and Daycare Center
All good things must come to an end.
The Hartlove's retired and closed the School/Daycare facility as of September 1, 2006.
We wish them well on their new endavors and are looking for another Daycare Corporation to fill the void in our community.
As previously stated, Oak Chapel Child Development Center started in 1992 emphasizing Christian values. As the church has grown so has our Child Development Center. Most the students and parents do not belong to the church so this has been a tremendous outreach to the community both filling a need and has attracted new members. Based on the needs these parents, the child care program has grown and added an elementary school and now a middle school serving about 120 children. This has been incorporated as a separate non-profit entity called Oak Chapel Academy, and is run by two members of the church, Maurice and Maritsa Hartlove. There are numerous scholarship programs that assist persons of varying income levels provide a high quality loving education or daycare service for their children.
Now that the dust has settled we are moving on to better serve our community. We have found new uses for our facility, and new ways of having fun while trying to make everyone's life a little more joyful. Our new Fellowship Hall is host to a number of events for the local community, various homeowners association (HOA) meetings, a local Alcohol Anonymous Chapter (contact the church office for more information), a Non-Profit Karate Class for children, and the list goes on...
We have added to our music program with the new facility. Now we have an electronic carillon, sending music to the local community, as well as two organs for worship services, one in the Historic Chapel and the one new Fellowship Hall. In 2004 both our choir director and our organist retired. We were able to combine the positions and fill the need with our new Music Director / Organist, Mrs. Ji-Hyun Lee.
With these new programs and facilities has come additional work. Our Pastor, Reverend Bill Boyer moved to a part time work schedule in preparation for his retirement in June of 2005. We were fortunate that Bob Schneider agreed to become our Assistant Pastor and feel very lucky that he was appointed our new pastor as of July 2005.
Now, we have a number of church projects we are working on. We are refurbishing our cemetery and working on marking all the graves, fixing broken markers, and searching our records to better serve local Historians and people studying Genealogy. You can get more information here (see “Our Cemetery”) or for those who are searching family history you can get our current Cemetery Records (Listing of Gravestones).
Commissioned in Memory of Bud Myers by Nancy Myers
Bud Myers was a part of Oak Chapel for over 40 years. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for many years, presided over our first major building project in the 1960's, the addition of the Education Building. He mowed the grass and maintained the grounds for many years all while raising a family and working full time as a Building/Plumbing Inspector for the DC Government.
Bud was a Master Plumber and maintained our steam heating system as well as much of other systems in our church. Bud loved bowling, and Oak Chapel. After his death in 2003, his wife Nancy and son Steve commissioned the wood statue of the new Fellowship Hall to commemorate the continued growth of Bud's beloved Oak Chapel.
The statue is available from the church office or on sale at our annual Noel Fest.
Our Cemetery
In 1938, the church was given complete control over the cemetery, according to Quarterly Methodist Conference records. And in the 1950’s it was officially closed.
In the late 1980's Layhill Road was expanded from a 2 lane to a 4 lane road right in front of Oak Chapel. During this construction, several unmarked graves were disturbed and had to be moved. Also a number of headstones fell over or were broken as a result of the construction process.
An above ground inventory of gravestones was completed in 1961 and has served as the basis for our latest project of refurbishing the cemetery. In 2004, we received a grant from the Maryland History Foundation to assist us in identifying the graves in our cemetery. The process began with testing the ground for underground sonar images. Each sonar hit has been marked (flagged,) to create a grid map of these locations and we are attempting to match the names in our records with the unmarked locations.
As we make progress in our research we will post the results here for those researching family history. “Our List of Gravestones” has an unfinished listing.
This is not a complete list of those buried in our cemetery. It is placed here to assist those doing genealogical research while we continue to work on our cemetery project.
There is one known U. S. Civil War grave, (at this time,) Col. Ephraim Mulligan.