St. Mark’s AUMP Church

ELK NECK — On the road to Turkey Point, motorists zipping along probably fail to notice a quiet old graveyard and the St. Mark’s AUMP Church. But this spot off the beaten path offers a glimpse into the past. .A few years ago, we stopped by this historic spot, which has witnessed the passage of centuries, to stroll and reflect on the history of the African-American community in Elk Neck.

In the cemetery, headstones memorialize the names of old Elk Neck families, veterans who served the nation, and community members. Here and there in the churchyard and at the edge of the nearby woods, these tombstones and many field stones hint at the stories of generations that came before us.

Here are a few traces of evidence related to St. Mark’s history that we found as we glanced at the past.

A modern-era cornerstone at the church indicates that St. Mark’s A.U. Church was dedicated in 1888, and additional work or a rededication must have been done in 1959. An Elkton newspaper reported that the cornerstone of the new church in Elk Neck, of which Rev. C. W. Sides had charge, would be laid on July 14, 1889.

The congregation, however, had an earlier house of worship, as the Whig noted that the “quarterly meeting of St. Mark’s Colored M.P. Church, Elk Neck” would be held on Sunday. The church pastor, Rev. Sparks, was going to preach on Sunday night at Providence Church in Elkton.

Deed records from 1887 and March 1, 1891, report that Susan and William Stackhouse provided the property for St. Mark’s. After their death, the Stackhouse estate’s trustees clarified and reissued the deed. The original deed indicated that the property would revert to the original owners if the land’s use as a church ceased. The original Stackhouse deed transferred the property to St. Mark’s for the sum of $1.00

An old African American school was located across from the church

Click this link to few more photos of the church and cemetery.

Notes & Sources.

A place like St. Mark’s has many untold stories waiting to be researched and told. These are some quick notes;

* Cecil Whig, July 6, 1889

* Evening Journal, May 7, 1900

* News Journal, Sept. 23, 1971

* Cecil County Land Records, JAD 24,1891

Photo date: May 5, 2019