| History (cont'd) In 1964, due to many factors, the congregation of St. Simon's was integrated with that of St. Thomas'. The buildings of St. Simon's Mission were demolished in the early 1970's. The cemetery was the first cemetery in Croom for African-Americans. An active cemetery remains at the site. The site of St. Simons's Mission is a Prince George's County Historical Resource Site. In 1916 the cornerstone for the Chapel of the Incarnation was laid in the railroad town of Brandywine. The chapel had initially started out as a Sunday School but the women of the town decided that Brandywine needed its own Episcopal church. They began the task of fundraising and by 1916 they were able to buy property and begin building. The architect and builder was William J. Palmer of Washington, DC. Well known for his fanciful church designs, Palmer chose to design the chapel in the Spanish Mission style. The chapel is unique in that it is one of the few, and perhaps only, examples of this style in southern Maryland. The total cost of the chapel was $3,000 and the building was paid for by 1923. Bishop Harding consecrated the chapel in October 1923. The Chapel became the unofficial town hall of Brandywine, many dances, crab feasts and fundraising events have been held there over the years. The local kindergarten met there for a few years in the mid-1960s. The Chapel is also home to the offices of Community Support Systems a non-profit community assistance organization. The Chapel maintains an active congregation. The Chapel of the Incarnation is a Prince George's County Historic Site and is also on The National Register of Historic Places. Saint Thomas' Parish has been under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Washington since 1895 and prior to that time, the parish was under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Maryland. Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., St. Thomas' Parish Historian, provided the historical information. For further information or to procure his services, please contact the Parish office at: (301) 627-8469. Back |