Conversations between Welsh, the tavern keeper and several of these farmers, led to his donating two acres of land, across from his tavern on the Liberty Road, on which to build "a Chapel of Ease for the residents of Delaware Hundred." Delaware Hundred was a political subdivision which could muster 100 militiamen in the time of war or Indian attack. A Chapel of Ease was a "convenience church" served occasionally by local lay readers. Such a Chapel was customarily surrounded by a burial ground.
With the disruptions of the revolutionary war, just five years after the Chapel of Ease was built, it's Tory Pastor fled to England and the building was used largely by Baptists and the new Methodist society which was sweeping across Maryland like wildfire. By 1820 and empty of worshippers, a neighboring farmer kept his livestock, sheep and cows in the small stone building.
In the 1830's a new wave of emigrants entered western Baltimore County, mostly from Baltimore City. Episcopalian among them, found their ancient chapel with "the doors and windows and roof gone and the floor taken up to get at the rabbits that harboured there".
Dedication and enthusiasm prevailed, a new congregation formed, the chapel repaired and dedicated with the new trendy name of Holy Trinity Church.
In 1850 , another Episcopal church was built, near the new railroad, the main line of the B&O.; and only four miles distant from the old Chapel. In time two stone church buildings were too much to maintain for the small parish. Once again Holy Trinity was abandoned and allowed to go to ruin, its' burial ground to wilderness. In the 1940's the remaining, dangerous stone walls were buried and in 1964 all the original 2 acre church yard given by the tavern keeper in 1771, was sold, with holding however a quarter acre remnant where people rested in about one hundred marked and unmarked graves.
One old gentleman came to the cemetery remnant, trimming the grass and tending the graves of his Dorcy ancestors. With his death the ancient God's Acre was forgotten and neglected.
Three people met in 1990 to consider the cemetery's fate. One of them, who had been fascinated with the place and it's history for years, went for a look and remained to begin clearing, repairing stones, researching lives and gathering a group of like minded folks. With his actions and enthusiasm Jim Purman founded the Friends of Old Trinity Cemetery.
Friends of Old Trinity Cemetery numbers over a hundred who find satisfaction in caring for and promoting one of the few remnants of early America surviving in the burgeoning, suburban area (Eldersburg, Carroll County, Maryland) They carry out an annual Visitation Day at 3pm on the last Sunday in October and a spring Cleanup Day the first Sat. in April from 10am-12pm. We are building a trust fund for future care so that Holy Trinity's future will not repeat its' past.
Friends of Old Trinity Cemetery are a non-aligned group of people of many and diverse ages and backgrounds. We are the caretakers and promoters of this property of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. We receive no funds from the church or state. We welcome your interest and help. We have no dues.