Union Chapel

Have you noticed the new addition rising from Union Chapel?Altering a building as old as this brings unique challenges. Trustees of Union Chapel wanted to guard the integrity of this place of worship while making the building more useful.The addition includes a vestibule, storage rooms, a meeting room, an office and bathrooms. Windows will provide an open view and lots of sun to the new spaces. Workers will install a heating and cooling system to serve the new structure and the old one.Members of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, who worship at Union Chapel, are excited about the addition.

On April 24, 2008, Bessie M. Hiltz A memorial service will be held at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. Friends may call at the church from 12:30 to 1:00 P.M. prior to the service. Those who desire may make contributions to Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 1012 Old Joppa Road, Joppa, MD 21085. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at: mccomasfuneralhome.com

"A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary." Those words of Dorothy Canfield Fisher express what our mothers did for us, and what we try to do for our children. It will be fun to honor Mom on Sunday and recall the ways she helped us.*Union Chapel is changing. For the first time, the 160-year old chapel will get an addition. It will provide space for Christian education, meeting rooms and bathrooms.The trustees of Union Chapel and the congregation of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, which worships there, will celebrate groundbreaking May 23, after the 9:30 a.m. service.

On January 20, 2008, WILLIAM "LEE" PRITCHETT, SR. of Bel Air, MD. Devoted husband of Patricia LaRay Quinn Pritchett; devoted father of Vicki LaRay and husband James L. Thacker II, Cheryl Lynn and husband Charles J. Seling Jr., Susan Lee and husband Eugene Meadows, and William LeRoy Pritchett and wife Holly; brother of Betty L. and James L. Marshall and sister in law Patricia Ann Pritchett. Also survived by 9 grandchildren. Predeceased by a brother John C. Pritchett. Services will be held in Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Thursday January 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM. Interment will be in Parkwood Cemetery, Baltimore, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home, P.A., Abingdon, MD on Wednesday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM and Thursday at the church from 9 to 10 AM, prior to the service.

On March 2, 2005, EDWARD HOWARD DRANE JR.; beloved husband of the late Catherine May Drane; loving father of Cathy Grimm, Linda Killeen and Cheryl Venters; cherished grandfather of Billy and Dawn Raab, Michael and Michelle Killeen and Justin, Sarah and Evan Venters; loving brother of Betty Moran and Charles Parrish. Relatives and friends are invited to call at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 1012 Old Joppa Road (Fallston) on Monday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday 10 A.M. at the church.

On April 24, 2008, Bessie M. Hiltz A memorial service will be held at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Friday, June 6, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. Friends may call at the church from 12:30 to 1:00 P.M. prior to the service. Those who desire may make contributions to Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 1012 Old Joppa Road, Joppa, MD 21085. Memory tributes may be sent to the family at: mccomasfuneralhome.com

On April 22, 2007, VERNA EPARD of Bel Air, MD. Beloved wife of the late Kyle B. Epard; devoted mother of Roger B. Epard and wife Kay; loving sister of Carl Callahan, Clyde Callahan, Glyda Galloway, Gaynell Fisher, and Marylee Hall. A Service will be held in Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Friday, April 27 at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home in Abingdon on Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. and Friday at the Church from 10-11 A.M. before the service.

On October 21, 2005, MARGARET W. HESS (nee Chenworth), of Fallston, MD; beloved wife of Spurgeon St. Clair Hess; devoted mother of Donald S. Hess and Carroll W. Hess; loving sister of Elizabeth Henderson and the late Harry T. Chenworth. Also survived by five grandchildren, Kevin S. Hess, C. John Hess, Christopher B. Hess, Matthew S. Hess, Amy C. Hess and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas S. Hess and Alexis N. Hess. A Service will be held in Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD, on Monday, October 24, 2005, at 10:30 A.M. Interment will be in Goodwell Cemetery, Fallston, MD. Friends may call at the family owned Mc Comas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Those who desire may contribute to Union Chapel U.M.C.

On March 6, 2004, DOROTHY MARY RIGGS VON BARBY, of Frederick; beloved wife of the late Baron Hans Wiprecht von Barby, devoted mother of Hans Wiprecht von Barby Jr., and Nomita Brady and her husband George, loving grandmother of Dr. William Louis Amoroso III, Rodi von Barby and Andrea von Barby Patterson; also survived by 6 step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and 12 step great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her father Augustus Riggs III, her mother Amalia de Murguiondo Riggs and by her brother, Augustus Riggs IV. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday March 10, 2004 at 1 P.M. from St. Andrews Union Chapel, at the corner of Rt 97 and Union Chapel Rd., Glenwood.

St. Andrew's Church of Glenwood celebrated the start of a construction project yesterday that will provide some basic 20th century amenities as the congregation builds for the 21st century.The Episcopal parish in western Howard County commemorated an "ending and a beginning," breaking ground on an addition to the 160-year-old Union Chapel, a one-room meeting house that lacks indoor plumbing, central heat and meeting space for religious classes and church leaders."It's the ending of a long period of wait and anticipation for something better for the future," Allen Douglas, chairman of the church's mission board, told about 60 parishioners after services.

On November 14,2007, WARREN GANS BLOSSER of Bel Air, MD; beloved husband of Claudia B. Zealor Blosser; devoted father of Jack G. Blosser and his wife, Michelle, Kimberly Blosser Haug and her husband, Glenn and the late Warren Gans Blosser, Jr.; loving brother of Robert Blosser and the late John Blosser, Mildred Weaver, Ruth Umble and Margaret Davis. Also survived by three grandchildren, Marlayna Haug, Jenna Blosser and Warren Blosser. Services will be held at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 11 A.M. Interment will be in the adjoining church cemetery.

On June 16, 2007, MELVIN G. QUICK of Joppa, MD. Beloved husband of Eva L. Wood Quick. Devoted father of Sherrie M. Kellagher, step-father of Linda Sheeler, and the late Robert A. Mathews. Loving brother of Steve Quick. Also survived by four grandchildren, Lauren N. Kellagher, Brendan R. Kellagher, Daniel P. Kellagher, and Nicholas A. Kellagher. Services will be held at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Thursday, June 21, 2007, at 11 A.M. Interment will be in adjoining church cemetery.

On April 22, 2007, VERNA EPARD of Bel Air, MD. Beloved wife of the late Kyle B. Epard; devoted mother of Roger B. Epard and wife Kay; loving sister of Carl Callahan, Clyde Callahan, Glyda Galloway, Gaynell Fisher, and Marylee Hall. A Service will be held in Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Friday, April 27 at 11:00 A.M. Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens, Bel Air, MD. Friends may call at the family owned McComas Funeral Home in Abingdon on Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. and Friday at the Church from 10-11 A.M. before the service.

1889: A Grand Union `Pic Nic' According to a local newspaper article in 1889, "Wednesday the 7th of August was the day fixed for the joint pic nic of Bel Air, Mt. Carmel and Union Chapel Methodist Protestant Sabbath Schools, in the grove at Union Chapel, about one mile from Wilna and five from Bel Air." The community of Wilna included the land around the Wilna Post Office at what is now the corner of Old Joppa and Hollingsworth roads. Sunday school was an important part of community life, as the newspaper article shows: "A large concourse of people from far and near were upon the ground during the day and evening, indeed it was said to be the largest gathering ever seen there and all were bent upon pleasure and having a good time generally.

On April 13, 2006, MARGARET PAULINE HILDEBRAND of Glenwood and formerly of Ocean City, beloved wife of the late Henry Hobart Hildebrand, devoted mother of Frederick Paul Hildebrand and Gail Margaret Willey; dear mother-in-law of Kimberly Hildebrand and Elwood Willey; dear sister of the late Paul Henry Loeschke, Jr.; dear grandmother of Amy Elizabeth Willey, Andrew Edward Willey, Kristen Leigh Hildebrand and Laura Kathryn Hildebrand and loving great-grandmother of...

On February 5, 2006, SPURGEON St. CLAIR HESS of Fallston, MD. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Windle Hess. Devoted father of Donald St. C. Hess and his wife Susan S. Hess and Carroll W. Hess. Loving brother of Harold B. Hess. Also survived by five grandchildren Kevin S. Hess and his wife Charmian, C. John Hess and his wife Jennifer, Christopher B. Hess, Matthew S. Hess and Amy C. Hess and two great-grandchildren Nicholas S. Hess and Alexis N. Hess. Services will be held in Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD on Thursday, February 9, 2006 at 10:30 A.M. Interment will be in Goodwill Cemetery, Fallston, MD. Friends may call at the family owned Mc Comas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. and at the church Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. Those who desire may contribute to Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 1012 Old Joppa Road, Joppa, MD 21085.

When the Rev. Roderick J. Miller says the Union Chapel United Methodist Church congregation built the parsonage where he and his family live near Bel Air, he means it -- literally.The craftsmanship and care church members put into construction of the house, built in 1987, illustrates why the Union Chapel parish has survived for 170 years,he says."The contractor, plumber, electrician, painter, carpenters, wallpaper hangers -- even the people who sold them supplies -- were all church members or connected to church members," says Miller.

On April 13, 2006, MARGARET PAULINE HILDEBRAND of Glenwood and formerly of Ocean City, beloved wife of the late Henry Hobart Hildebrand, devoted mother of Frederick Paul Hildebrand and Gail Margaret Willey; dear mother-in-law of Kimberly Hildebrand and Elwood Willey; dear sister of the late Paul Henry Loeschke, Jr.; dear grandmother of Amy Elizabeth Willey, Andrew Edward Willey, Kristen Leigh Hildebrand and Laura Kathryn Hildebrand and loving great-grandmother of...

On October 21, 2005, MARGARET W. HESS (nee Chenworth), of Fallston, MD; beloved wife of Spurgeon St. Clair Hess; devoted mother of Donald S. Hess and Carroll W. Hess; loving sister of Elizabeth Henderson and the late Harry T. Chenworth. Also survived by five grandchildren, Kevin S. Hess, C. John Hess, Christopher B. Hess, Matthew S. Hess, Amy C. Hess and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas S. Hess and Alexis N. Hess. A Service will be held in Union Chapel United Methodist Church, Joppa, MD, on Monday, October 24, 2005, at 10:30 A.M. Interment will be in Goodwell Cemetery, Fallston, MD. Friends may call at the family owned Mc Comas Funeral Home, P.A., Bel Air, MD, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Those who desire may contribute to Union Chapel U.M.C.

On March 2, 2005, EDWARD HOWARD DRANE JR.; beloved husband of the late Catherine May Drane; loving father of Cathy Grimm, Linda Killeen and Cheryl Venters; cherished grandfather of Billy and Dawn Raab, Michael and Michelle Killeen and Justin, Sarah and Evan Venters; loving brother of Betty Moran and Charles Parrish. Relatives and friends are invited to call at Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 1012 Old Joppa Road (Fallston) on Monday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday 10 A.M. at the church.