FaithWays on the Shore

Churches and other places of worship dot our landscape.  Many travel to the shore to trace their ancestry.  The roots of Makemie and the Presbyterian church are strong here.  Come explore our historic churches, cemeteries and graveyards, tour synagogues and understand the roots of African American culture here.

Exterior shot of Stevenson United Methodist Church, Berlin, MD. 1960-1970. Walter Thurston Photograph Collection (2016.096) Nabb Research Center

Stevenson United Methodist Church

Stevenson United Methodist Church in Berlin has its roots in the Perdeaux Chapel in Sinepuxent Neck. When the congregations was reduced it was dubbed Cedar Chapel and a chapel was built in 1835 on South Main Street near today’s Buckingham Cemetery. By 1847 the congregation moved to North Main Street and a new church was built, this time called Stevenson. This name change was to honor Edward Stevenson, who had donated the land for the church to be built on.
Over time, the church was gradually improved, adding a second story, memorial windows, and a pipe organ, until 1911 when the congregation, under Rev. TR. VanDyke, outgrew the size of the chapel. It was decided that a new and larger stone building should be constructed on the same site. In August of 1912 the new building had its groundbreaking and by June of 1913 the church was dedicated. Stevenson United continued to improve the site over the course of the 20th century, adding space for Sunday schooling and a church house.

Beth Israel Congregation, view from Camden Ave. Sept., 1962. Walter Thurston Photograph Collection (2016.096) Nabb Research Center

Beth Israel Congregation

Originally founded in 1925 on Salisbury's Main Street as Kahelas Israel Congregation, Beth Israel is the only conservative congregation on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. At the time, only nine Jewish families were present in the Salisbury area and the number of families remain few. Despite this and several migrations from building to building, the synagogue has survived as a safe space for Salisbury's Jewish population as well as an opportunity to educate non-Jewish residents about Jews. In a smaller town where most residents do not come into contact with Jews on a day to day basis, the congregation's commitment to educating Salisbury about the Jewish faith is important in dispelling misconceptions about Judaism. 
In 1951, the congregation moved to its current location on Camden Avenue where it continues to educate and serve the community. 

Mt. Zion Memorial Church Exterior View National Register of Historic Places

Mount Zion Memorial Church

Built in 1887, the design of Mount Zion Memorial Church likely comes from plans sold by a catalogue architect named Benjamin D. Price. As an active church, it provided church services for the local African American community until Mt. Zion ceased to function as a church in 2002 and became a community center for the residents of Mt. Vernon, Oriole, Venton, and the greater Princess Anne area. Since 2002, it has hosted family reunions, funerals, weddings, and other events. Due to its age and longevity, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Maryland Register for Historic Sites. 

Cavalry M.E. Church Maryland Historical Trust WI-503

Bishop Methodist Church

​Thought to have been built in 1866, Bishop Methodist Church, named after Black Civil War veteran and community leader Jacob Bishop, is a small church located in what remains of the Glass Hill community. Referred to as Cavalry M.E. Church in the Maryland Historical Trust's inventory form WI-503, this church was once the heart of the community. While Glass Hill has been fading into history as community members pass on or move away, the church remains a symbol of Glass Hill and the African American community built around it. The old Glass Hill School, first built in the 1870s, once stood across from this church until being moved into the town of Pittsville in the 1980s. Both appear on the 1877 Atlas of Wicomico, Somerset, and Worcester Counties. Today, the Glass Hill Cemetery stands across from the church.

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