THE MEMBERS of Epiphany Episcopal Church and Church House in Odenton honored the ministers and chaplains of World War I on Sunday by dedicating a memorial to them.
A "peace garden" at the church - believed to be the only surviving World War I chapel in the country - was dedicated to nearly 3,000 military ministers and chaplains. The garden features four bronze plaques listing the names of the chaplains who served in World War I. Of those being honored, 25 were rabbis, 164 were Navy chaplains and 108 were African-American ministers.
Securing funding for the project was not easy, but in the end, support came mainly from the Great War Society, the Thomas and Katherine Stone Foundation, NATO headquarters in Belgium and military chapels around the world.
Members of the Soldiers' Chorus and the Army Field Band performed at the dedication.
The ceremony celebrated the history surrounding the chapel.
In the spring of 1917, Odenton was thrust into the war. Camp Meade, which lies within walking distance of the town, was being transformed from more than 9,000 acres of farmland into a giant temporary city where the Army would train soldiers for trench warfare in Europe.
By September of that year, the camp was ready, and at the end of the month, it held more then 25,000 troops. At this time, there was very little activity in the surrounding area, which forced soldiers on weekend furloughs to make the trip to Baltimore in search of entertainment.
Realizing the need for activities near the camp, the Episcopal Church launched a plan to build a church near the base that would offer religious guidance as well as a place for soldiers to stay with visiting families and, when necessary, a place for these families to say goodbye. The result of those plans was Epiphany Episcopal Church. There soldiers and townspeople could enjoy board games, a Victrola, books and magazines.
The Rev. Phebe L. McPherson, pastor of Epiphany Episcopal, said of the activities at the site: "Dances were held, dinners were served, goodbyes were spoken, prayers were offered and family members could spend the night in the dormitory. ... A chaplain comforting dying soldiers might read a psalm to a Protestant, hold a crucifix to a Catholic's lips or lead a Jewish soldier in the Hebrew confession of faith."
When the war ended, the chapel was left as a memorial and for use by local residents.
When McPherson learned of its history, she enlisted the help of her congregation and began planning to restore the church to its original glory.
The restoration was a long process that sought to return the building to its original beauty and continue the chapel's history of hospitality. McPherson said that understanding the history of the church is very important. "History helps everyone be more human," she said.
Crofton flea market
Bargain-hunters are invited to the annual flea market and bake sale at Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church in Crofton from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Co-sponsored by the board of deacons and the Presbyterian Women, the event raises money to fund mission projects. Prince of Peace is at 1657 Crofton Parkway.