Jessop Meeting House was built in 1809 and named after Revolutionary War Soldier Charles Jessop of Baltimore County.
Charles Jessop was one of the most active of the original trustees in the establishment of the meeting house. He is said to have selected the site, secured the land, was most generous in his donations to the building fund and also supervised the construction of the church. In early life he was said to be the strongest man in Maryland, weighing about three hundred pounds. So widespread was his reputation for strength that people came from all parts of the country to wrestle with him. He was converted to Methodism when a young man, under the ministry of his uncle – one of the first Methodists in America.
Charles Jessop was born in Baltimore County Maryland on November 6, 1759. At about the age of 12, he heard a Methodist man preach and begun a life’s journey in the Methodist Church. At the age of 16 he was bound out as an apprentice in a local millwright business. During the later part of his apprenticeship, Charles was drafted and served in the Army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
Charles took an active part in all public affairs for the good of the community. His business ventures also met with well deserved success for in starting out in life his capital consisted of only a pair of willing hands, a strong constitution, and a determination to succeed.
Aside from the deed conveying to the trustees, an acre of ground on which to build a Methodist house of worship in 1811, there are no records of the Church. Most likely between 1809 and 1811 the congregation met in the homes of the members, and held services in various places until plans could be formulated and sufficient funds raised to build a church.
On the first day of March, 1811, John Gorsuch, Jr., owner of a tract of land overlooking Jessop Valley, and, in a distance, Cockeysville, ” for the consideration of one dollar, deeded to Charles Jessop, Charles Gorsuch, John Hatton, Phillip Lettig, Robert Fisher, Samuel Willis and John Hatton, trustees in trust; never-the-less to and for the uses and purposes of erecting theron a house or houses for the uses and purposes…for the benefit of the society of Christians, commonly known by the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America.”
Under the strict provisions of this deed the one ace was taken over by the trustees named, and a little later the first house of worship of the congregation of Jessop M. E. Church was erected-the walls of which still stand as the major portion of the present edifice.
Before there was a national anthem, signers of the Declaration of Independence still living, this church stood overlooking the valley. Think of the events that have taken place since the building was first dedicated. The Civil War, Spanish-American War, The Great War, the Second World War! All events touching the lives of the members here. Jessops became part of the Great Falls Circuit with nineteen preaching stations served by a circuit rider.
Jessops Church was enlarged in 1854 and then redesigned in 1887 following a dramatic restyling by renowned architect Benjamin Buck Owens of Baltimore. The original Church was a rectangular, stone structure, about sixty feet in length, forty feet in width; perfectly plain, with low ridged roof; a series of windows along its east and west walls and small entrance doors at the south end. It was heated by stoves and lighted by oil lamps; was comfortable and commodious for the congregation that attended services of worship. The first building seems to have sufficed until 1854, when the remodeled church was opened. The Rev. John H. Dashiell and Rev. Henry Sipes were the pastors. Sometime later the church was closed for a while, but reopened on ay 29th. 1887, by Bishop Andrews who preached the morning sermon. The pulpit was filled in the afternoon by the Rev. A. J. Gill. At the time the Rev. J. H. Lemon and Rev. Samuel Alford were the ministers in charge. The Rev. W. F. Speake was presiding elder.
The congregation of his Church celebrated the Centennial of its founding on December 4, 1909. Today, Jessops Methodist Church is a historical Jewel quietly resting high about the hubbub of commerce by which it is now surrounded. Time has indeed been kind to Jessops, however as is the way with old buildings, repairs and restorations are sometimes needed. The Jessops Board of Trustees continues to undertake the efforts necessary to preserve the beauty of the Church building. Jessops is historical in a number of way including, religion, architecture and local Baltimore County history. We are endeavoring to preserve Jessops’ historic integrity to insure its future preservation.
Historic Jessops Church is now on both the Baltimore County Landmarks list and the Maryland Historical Trust’s inventory of historic places. The beautiful stained glass and etched windows were crafted in 1887 by Gernhardt, a well known artisan of that time period.
Historic Jessops Church – Maryland Historical Trust
Jessops Methodist Episcopal Church dates its origin to the year 1809 when the congregation met in the homes of its founding members. Then in 1811, John Gorsuch, Jr., on the first day of March, conveyed a hilltop location to the original trustees for one dollar.
The first trustees were Charles Jessop, Charles Gorsuch, John Hatton, Phillip Lettig, Robert Fisher, Samuel Willis, and John Watts. The deed from Gorsuch specified that the purpose of the donation was “for the uses and purposes of erecting thereon a house or houses for the accommodation of a school and teachers thereof, and also for the use and benefit of the society of Christians commonly known by the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States of America, according to the rules and discipline, which from time to time, may be agreed upon by the ministers and preachers of the said church or society of Christians at their general conference in the United States of America, and that such ministers and preachers belonging to the said church or society, and none others, shall be permitted to preach and expound God’s Holy Word therein.”
The tract name of the church site was “Round-a-bout,” which seemed to serve as a place name along with the steep curved ascent to the site, Fifteen Mile Hill. Charles Jessop was one of the contractors for building the turnpike version of the road to York in 1809 and was familiar with the terrain.
It was customary to name chapels for the person or family that bore most of the expenses and no doubt Charles Jessop with his wealth and skills was responsible for carrying out the project. Jessop had been an iron master, a road contractor, bridge builder, farmer, and mill operator. He owned the Beaver Dam Mill (later called Shipley’s) and another mill during his career. At the time of building the chapel, he lived at a great house on Paper Mill Road called “Vauxhall” that was eventually condemned to develop the Loch Raven watershed. Jessop kept a farm ledger where he recorded some of his business transactions and also social notes on births and deaths in the vicinity; he also wrote a few paragraphs of autobiography, where he noted that in his youth he had drank to excess, used profane language, and engaged in brawls and wrestling matches, not the sort with established sporting rules. Jessop’s spelling is difficult to unravel but he expressed himself well.
The 1959 parish history reports that the original church was rectangular, built of stone, about sixty feet in length, forty feet in width, perfectly plain with low ridged roof, and a series of windows along its east and west walls and with small entrance doors at the south end. It was heated by stones, lighted by oi 1 lamps, and “was comfortable and commodious for the congregation that attended services of worship there.”
Charles Jessop lived from November 6, 1759 to April 2, 1828; his wife, Mary Gorsuch Jessop lived from August 29, 1767, to August 29, 1832.
The church historian speculates that the building doubled as a Sunday School, which had been called for in the original deed. Still further remodeling took place in 1854. The structural history of this period, the original church project and the remodeling are extremely shadowy and there is nothing to quote from primary sources.
If the 1811 church was as plain as early Americans could make it, the third phase of construction resulted in a remarkable work of art in the popular Shingle Style that was sweeping the Gilded Age. The local weekly reported in late October of 1886 that the Jessop congregation was meeting above Wright’s Store at Shawan Road and York Road during the reconstruction; they had just been offered the use of the Ashland Presbyterian Church. · Wright’s Store was the one later operated by the Aiken and Pinkner families and then saw its final use as a camping supply shop, being demolished August 4, 1988.
The last week of October in 1886, the Towson weekly gave a detailed account of the rebuilding process, which clearly shows that the walls of 1811 or of 1854 (or both) were incorporated into this handsome building that survives 106 years later.
Philopolis, 8th District. improvement of Jessop’s Church is progressing The improved edifice wi 11 be about 40 feet in height with a large belfry. A vestibule will be added, 9 feet in width and 30 feet long with arched doorways on the right angle corners. The walls are raised 3 feet and the interior stripped and replastered. The interior will be open to the rafters, which will be finished in diagonal panels. There will be four dormer windows in the roof, two on either side The gallery will be removed and the roof will be covered with slate. The gable ends will be shingled instead of stone, as formerly. The whole cost will reach about $3,000 …..
The reopened Jessop’s held its first service on May 29, 1887, with Bishop Andrews preaching the morning sermon. The afternoon sermon was preached by the Rev. A. J. (or W. J.) Gill. One Towson paper reported:
The repairs to the church cost about $3,800, most of which has been collected leaving but a very small amount unpaid. The larger portion of the collection ·taken at night was donated by Mr. Edw. Austen, who is a member of the Baptist Church.
The other Towson paper’s Philopolis correspondent reported in much more detail and tied the project to a notable city architect and member of the AIA:
Jessop’s M. E. Church, which has undergone improvements by raising its side walls about three feet, extending the roof to a height of forty feet, on which there· is a belfry of more than twenty feet, in which was placed a bell weighing 800 pounds, also by the addition of a vestibule nine feet wide and enlarging the windows by placing transoms over them, the exterior repainted and penciled, new pulpit, new pews, and new carpeting, neatly and beautifully frescoed and the windows all replaced with pretty colored glass, was reopened on Sunday last with interesting services Those prominent in its erection &c. , were Mr. Joseph S. Underwood, contractor, Messrs. Diven, Schultz, and. Smith, masons, Mr. John E. Diven, painter; Mr. William George, frescoes; Mr. B. B. Owen [sic], architect. Messrs. Murphy & Gernhardt furnished the glass, Messrs. Joseph Thomas & Son the furniture, and Crone Bros. the carpeting; The organ was from Sanders & Stayman. The congregation is surely well repaid for their efforts in making the improvement and have done no more than what the spot or beautiful elevation where the church stands is worthy of. They are greatly indebted to all who have given them encouragement and financial aid.
The Philopolis correspondent also noted that the pulpit chair had not been delivered in time for the reopening. Lime for the project had been donated by the firm of Shipley & Parks, Texas, Md. The congregation celebrated the centennial of the first homes meetings on December 4, 1909. The 150th anniversary was celebrated with a homecoming service on September 20, 1959. That year, a well printed parish history was published with the portral. ts of Charles and Mary Gorsuch Jessop. Much of the same material was reused in the 175th anniversary booklet for the services held on September 9, 1984.
Today we operate as a public charity (IRS designated 501 (c) (3) charity) with the mission of preserving Historic Jessops Church Inc. for future generations. An all-volunteer Board of Directors manages our cemetery and historic sanctuary. Christ is still proclaimed here with a special community led Christmas Eve Service each year. Additionally, Jessops hosts annual concerts and hymn signs throughout the spring and fall months. Historic Jessops Church Inc. is also available to host wedding celebrations, fundraisers, corporate meetings and other special events. Contact us through this website for information about renting Historic Jessops Church for your next event.
Refrences:
1. Anonymous, Jessop’s Methodist Church (Sparks, Md., 1959), n.p.
2. Baltimore County Deeds, WG 114:344, Hall of Records, Annapolis.
3. Charles Jessop, “Prose From a Farm Ledger,” History Trails, 11 (Autumn, 1976).
4. Baltimore County Union, Towsontown, October 23, 1886.
5. Baltimore County Union, Towsontown, October 30, 1886.
6. Maryland Journal, Towsontown, June 4, 1887.
7. Baltimore County Union, Towsontown, June 4, 1887.
8. Anonymous, Jessop’s Methodist Church, Founded 1809 (Cockeysville, 1984).
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