DAYTRIPS: BALTIMORE

by Tori Jane

The Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church Is A Pretty Place Of Worship In Maryland

It is no secret that there seems to be no shortage of breathtakingly gorgeous places of worship around the world. Here in the United States, we have our fair share, and Maryland is lucky enough to be among the states who are best known for architectural masterpieces. The East coast is full of history, and the churches are no different. This particular church, however, is our absolute favorite, and we suspect it might be one of, if not the, most beautiful churches in Maryland.

The Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, most commonly just referred to as Mount Vernon UMC, is a breathtaking piece of Victorian Gothic architecture.Wally Gobetz/FlickrDesigned by two men by the names of Thomas Dixon and Charles L. Carson and finished in November 1872, it's made of six different types of stone; one of them is a beautiful, rare stone called green serpentine metabasalt.

At the time of this writing, the church has stood for 148 years, welcoming both curious revelers and devoted worshipers alike.Joe Haupt/FlickrThe pews were, amazingly, all carved by hand by one man. They are carved out of American walnut, and took seven years to finish! The church seats 900, so there's plenty of room for anyone who would like to attend a service or wedding.

The church sits on the land that was once the site of Charles Howard's home.Eli Pousson/WikimediaHis father-in-law was Francis Scott Key, the man who wrote "The Star Spangled Banner", and Key died in the home in 1843. Today, there is a plaque dedicated to his memory at the church.

The architecture of Mt. Vernon Place UMC is intensely beautiful inside and out.Mount Vernon Place United Methodist ChurchA stained-glass Connick cross sits up behind the pulpit, and it matches the jovial mood of the brilliantly-crafted stained-glass of the rest of the building. Every square foot is pure perfection; the photos do not do it a lick of justice.

Its construction in the 1800s costed $400,000, which in today's money would be approximately $8.2 million.David Hsu/FlickrSince the rare and beautiful stones that make up many parts of the church's architecture don't tend to always age well, restorations were performed in 1932 and 1978. Since then, there have been numerous restoration, renovation and updates made to keep the church in tip-top shape.

Interestingly, during World Wars I and II, Mount Vernon Place UMC was where many stationed in Maryland called home!Leslie Johnston/FlickrIn the first year of World War I, they hosted more than 4,300 servicemen. They offered warm meals, safe sleeping spaces and, of course, a place to worship and relax.

Today, the church is still a staple for anyone who wishes to visit Maryland.Mount Vernon Place United Methodist ChurchIts remarkable beauty and richly fascinating history make it one of our very favorite stops in Baltimore.

The church is welcoming to any person who would like to join them. Every Sunday at 10:35 a.m., there is an online service via Zoom. Once the church is able to hold in-person services again, they will resume their normal schedule, including Fellowship Hour, Bible study, and special events! If you’d like information about how to access the Zoom Sunday service, their hours of operation, more history, and anything else, visit their website.

Address: 10 E Mt Vernon Pl, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA

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