We are nearing the end of this pilgrimage… this upcoming Sunday evening will be spent at our own home, and not in a hotel room. A return to the familiar.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025: We began the day by visiting Barratt’s Chapel. We were warmly greeted by Phil, the archivist for the Pennsylvania-Delaware conference. Barratt’s is the location for the conference archives. Phil gave us a personal tour of the campus and the chapel, offering many details of the life and history of Barratt’s Chapel. Barratt’s Chapel is the oldest Methodist building, built by and for Methodists, that is still standing. It has been impeccably restored and maintained by the Pennsylvania-Delaware conference.

In 1791, Asbury presided at a quarterly meeting at Barratt’s Chapel, but I imagine that each visit to Barratt’s would have invoked memories from 1784, when Thomas Coke met with Asbury and informed him of John Wesley’s grand plan to create a Church in America, not just a movement as Methodism had remained in England. Later in that year, the infamous “Christmas Conference” will be held at the Lovely Lane Chapel in Baltimore, where Asbury will be ordained the first Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an the rest, as they say, is history.

From Barratt’s Chapel, we followed Asbury’s trek down the Eastern Shore of Virginia. First stop was Downings UMC. In 1791, Asbury joined the folks at Downings for a love feast and what became a spiritual experience for Asbury. He notes in his journal:

Saturday, 15. Came to Downing’s chapel; had a blessed love feast; most of those who spoke professed sanctification. My soul was filled with God.

Finding no one to talk with, I left a Prologue and we continued with Asbury’s southerly circuit on the Eastern Shore.

We arrived at Oak Grove UMC, of unusual but beautiful architecture. We found a number of folks there, in the sanctuary: Peggy, Newton, Becky, Bill and others, including Bocci, the dog who is said to be a full member of Oak Grove. They were awaiting a visit from Rev. Beth Givens, their District Superintendent to discuss a replacement pastor, due to a recent retirement. My unannounced appearance created a little confusion and they asked if I would like to be their pastor. We all laughed after clearing things up. Burton Chapel is connected to Oak Grove in some way, the Oak Grove folks say that it split off from Oak Grove at some point. The claim to fame for Oak Grove is that they have the oldest continuous Sunday School in America. Beth Givens arrived as we were leaving, I hope she has a solution for this beautiful church and its faithful members.

Other waypoints of this day: Federalsburg, MD and Melfa UMC (now closed, but was partnered with Oak Grove) we settled for the night in Salisbury MD… having traveled in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia for the day.

Thursday, September 26, 2025: Within our time space of Asbury’s journal, this day begins on October 21, 1791:

Friday, 21. Preached at brother Littleton Long’s on Hebrews 8:10-12. I think the Lord will work in this neighbourhood, and take away the covering and the veil that are spread upon the minds of the people. Temptations have oppressed my soul, and disease afflicted my body; it is the Lord’s power alone that can help me; I fear I am not so constant in prayer as I should be. I made an effort to establish a female school, under sister G——, and sister B——; and endeavoured to impress the necessity and expediency of band meeting, on men and women, both married and single.

Francis Asbury was in the Salisbury area. Asbury United Methodist Church of Salisbury predates Asbury’s visit of 1791, and so I would consider this large congregation to be a direct, contemporary descendent of Asbury’s ministry. When we arrived, we were greeted by Heather, the Director of Children and Care Ministry. She graced us with a tour of the huge campus, including a visit to their beautiful sanctuary. Throughout the halls of Asbury UMC, were many framed works of needlepoint. A group of needlepoint craftspersons have created beautiful depictions of Biblical stories, flowers and other art. In the third photo above, are the kneeler cushions at the chancel rail – this is but a small section of the needlepoint adorned cushions that surround the rail. Asbury UMC is a very active congregation, and their ministries extend throughout and beyond the Salisbury community. Truly, “the Lord has worked in this neighborhood.”

Continuing our travels in Maryland, we arrived at Deer Creek United Methodist Church. The final few miles had us driving over very hilly, very curvy roads that narrowed several times. A steep drop-off along one side of the road beckoned caution in driving. We wondered between us exactly what was ahead. And then, out of nowhere appears this lovely, rural church. Asbury notes in his visit in November, 1791:

Friday, 18. We had a powerful, melting time, at Deer Creek: my subject was Jeremiah 14:8-10.

As we usually do, we walked through the attached graveyard, where the saints of Deer Creek rest, descendants of a “melting time.” I slipped a Prologue in the door.

Asbury’s circuit that included our places of visit today would have him also stopping at Cokesbury College and Old Otterbein UMC in Baltimore… but having visited them earlier on Days 11 & 12 and Days 13 & 14, we moved on to Annapolis, Maryland for a good night’s rest (or, so we thought)…

This is the night time scene outside of our hotel, after having been awakened from sleep by the piercing scream of the fire alarm. No less than five Annapolis Fire Department trucks arrived, along with the Annapolis Police. After about 20 minutes, or so, the alarm was finally silenced and we were allowed to return to our rooms. Surely, an event unknown to Bishop Asbury!

Peace,
-Pastor Tim