Oak Chapel United Methodist Church

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.

Click here for the History from 1940 thru 1980's...

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