St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Episcopal church in Showell, Maryland.
St. Martin's is a rectangular church built in the Georgian style with brick walls laid in Flemish bond and glazed header bricks that catch the light. The original brick pavers that line the aisles have been preserved and remain visible underfoot throughout the interior.
The church was built between 1756 and 1759 as the first parish church of Worcester Parish, which had been established in 1753. Its construction at the crossroads of Route 113 and Route 589 served as a religious center for the surrounding community.
The interior layout reflects its original purpose with two aisles that guide worshippers toward the communion table positioned at the east end. The pulpit on the north wall, topped with a carved sounding board, remains a focal point for how the space was meant to be used.
The building has operated as a museum since 1993 under the St. Martin's Church Foundation, making it open for visitors to explore. The location at a clearly marked road intersection makes it straightforward to find, and you can walk around the exterior to examine the brick details and architectural features.
The windows and doors feature jack arches with raised keystones carefully crafted from specially rubbed bricks, a technique rarely seen in simple colonial churches. This decorative brickwork appears throughout the building except at the west entrance, which was left plain.
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