Churches

City celebrates being part of Underground RR

CUMBERLAND — "I looked over Jordan and what did I see, coming for to carry me home? A band of angels coming after me, coming for to carry me home."

The words of the spiritual were familiar in the mid-1800s to black men and women who stood on the southern bank of the Ohio River near Ripley, W.Va., staring into Ohio and freedom from slavery on the far side.

Underground Railroad history

City woman recalls grandfather's role

MARIA D. MARTIRANO

FEBRUARY 9, 2004

CUMBERLAND —
As a child walking home from Frederick Street School, Romaine Franklin would stop by to see her grandfather, who gave her a coin each time.

She'd ask how he was doing, and he would respond "just tolerable." Then he asked which grandchild she was. And once she answered, he'd give her a nickel or a dime.

"I was one of his spoiled grandchildren," she said.

Emmanuel Parish was founded in 1803. The cornerstone for the stone Gothic Revival Emmanuel Episcopal Church was laid in May 1849 with the consecration being held on October 16, 1851. It eventually cost $18,000 to erect the Church. The adjoining parish hall was constructed in 1901. In that same year, the entire property was enclosed by the existing stone wall. The church stands on the former site of Fort Cumberland.

The following text is taken from a brochure produced by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Cumberland. It is to a significant extent based upon oral histories:

TIME CAPSULE OPENED
History Unearthed

Ebenezer Full Gospel Church to honor McIntyres

CUMBERLAND — Ebenezer Full Gospel Baptist Church, 861 Columbia Ave., will host a celebration marking the 22nd anniversary of service for Pastor John B. McIntyre Sr. and first lady Earline McIntyre Sunday beginning at 4 p.m. Pastor Stephon Knox executive pastor of Ebenezer, will be the speaker and Pastor Darin Allen, gospel recording artist and founder and senior pastor of Greater Works Ministries Church, Columbus, Ohio, will be a guest.

The Cumberland Times-News September 7, 2007

Ebenezer Baptist to mark pastor's 18th anniversary

The congregation of Ebenezer Full Gospel Baptist Church, 861 Columbia Ave., will celebrate the 18th anniversary of its pastor's and first lady's service today through Sunday. Bishop John B. McIntyre Sr. and Evangelist Earline McIntyre have been traveling from their native Washington, D.C, to serve as pastors of Ebenezer for the past 18 years.

Ebenezer Baptist Church

The Ebenezer (African) Baptist Church congregation was organized in the spring of 1875 by the Reverends H.J. Chandler of the Bedford Street Baptist Church and James Nelson of Washington. Many of the church members, numbering about 15 to 20 at that time, worked at the B&O Rolling Mill. Worship services were held on the third floor of a building located between Mechanic and Liberty Streets in downtown Cumberland. This served the congregation until a real church building was constructed.

As noted in the (Cumberland) Daily News, the Reverend G.W.M. Lucas, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, conducted the religious services held June 20, 1909 at the cornerstone laying ceremony for a new church being erected at 8 Cumberland Street. The Ebenezer Church on Cumberland Street replaced an earlier church that was erected in 1876 when the congregation was organized that same year by Reverend Lewis Hicks.

Dickerson AME Church renovating, reaching out

CHUCK BIEDKA
Times-News Staff Writer

FROSTBURG —

Joyful music and praise emanated from the Dickerson African Methodist Episcopal Church Sunday afternoon as the congregation made plans to expand its ministry. Their base is a historic white-frame church that sits on top a hill at West Mechanic Street. The church is looking at land for an adult day care center, said the Rev. Constance Wheeler.

Depicted in this photograph is the 1988 anniversary planning committee of the Dickerson A.M.E. Church of Frostburg. The Dickerson A.M.E. Church observed its 143rd anniversary on Sunday, March 13, 1988 at 5:30 p.m.

Left to right are Mrs. Dorothy Davis, Ms. Leticia Shelton, Mrs. Darlene Shelton, Robert Harper, Mrs. Josephine Harper, the Reverend Barbara Barbour, pastor of Dickerson A.M.E., and Nellie Small.