St. Mary's Evangelical Lutheran

Silver Run

Sources:

Church Website: http://www.stmaryselc.org/pagehistory.html

Centennial History of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Maryland 1820-1920, Wentz

The began as a Union Church of two congregations, Lutheran and Reformed, on May 31, 1762. A log building was erected on a 15-acre lot by the members. The log building sufficed for almost 60 years. In 1821, another building was erected, again a union church, across the street from where St. Mary's United Church of Christ is built today. This building, made of brick, was completed and dedicated in 1822.

The union building shared by the Lutherans and Reformed lasted about 130 years, but the time came for separation. In 1893, the Reformed congregation dedicated the current St. Mary's United Church of Christ. On a corner lot at the bottom of the hill, along the main highway, the Lutherans consecrated a site for their church. The laying of the corner stone of St. Mary's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Silver Run, Maryland, was on July 8, 1894, led by the Reverend H. C. Fultz. The stone church was officially dedicated on December 20th, 1896, by Pastor W. H. Ehrhart.

On May 24, 1879, with the founding of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church at Pleasant Valley, St. Mary's became a two-church parish. This relationship with St. Matthew's lasted until January 14, 1990, when St. Mary's and St. Matthew's voted to discontinue the partnership and call their own pastor.

Today, the church enjoys approximately 280 members in the congregation.