Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church

Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church is a stone building in Eldersburg constructed with uncoursed rubble and featuring a barrel-vaulted interior room. The structure occupies two acres along Maryland Route 26 and was designed to serve the congregation's worship needs.

The building was constructed around 1822 by John Elder as one of the earliest Methodist houses of worship in Carroll County. Its establishment coincided with the rapid growth of Methodism across America during this formative period.

The chapel served as a gathering place for the local Methodist community and embodies the religious beliefs brought by settlers to this rural area. Today you can sense how such meetinghouses shaped social and spiritual life in early American countryside settlements.

The chapel is located along Maryland Route 26 in a rural setting and is accessible on foot from the parking area on the grounds. The stone structure is sturdy and can be viewed from outside year-round in most weather conditions.

The chapel received recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, honoring its importance as a surviving example of early Methodist church architecture. This designation acknowledged the craftsmanship in its stone construction and structural details that have endured for roughly two centuries.

Location: Maryland

GPS coordinates: 39.40720,-76.96250

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:42