St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Cemetery
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church cemetery sign, Kacie's Photography 2016
5203 St. Barnabas Road, Oxon Hill (Temple Hills), Prince George's County, Maryland 20744
The land on which St. Barnabas church stands was part of Barnaby Manor, property held by the Addison family since Colonel John Addison began amassing land in the southwestern portion of Maryland in 1685. The Addison family donated land to St. John’s Broad Creek, and in 1830 for land for St. Barnabas, a mission chapel to St. John’s. It was consecrated as the sixth chapel of King George’s Parish in 1837. Another building was built in 1851 when the 1830 chapel burned. A larger church was added to the grounds in 1958, and a new parish hall in 1961.
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church is a one-story rectangular structure of red-painted brick, with a two-story brick bell tower centered at the west gable end. The bell tower forms an entry vestibule for the church. Four bays of mitre arch stained glass windows mark the east and west facades. The church stands on a level 27 acre property, with a ca. 1957 brick church to the northwest, across a grassy yard. The church structure is laid in American bond with a row of header bricks every fifth row. There is a frieze board beneath the overhanging boxed eaves, which is returned in the east and west gable ends. The gable roof is covered with synthetic shingle. The east gable end is unfenestrated, with a centered circular brick apse, which appears to be an addition. It has a corbelled brick cornice composed of a course of headers with every other brick projecting, a conical cap covered with standing-seam metal, and a round arch figural stained glass window in the north and south face. The church interior is a rectangular open space lighted by the stained glass windows. The ceiling is a barrel vault with wood ribbing forming square coves over its surface. An elaborately molded cornice runs down the north and south sides of the room. A wide segmental arch provides entry to the sanctuary at the east end of the room. A matching arch provides entry into the circular apse beyond the sanctuary.
The approximately two acre church yard has a cemetery to the north and east. Oak trees line the west (front) of the church lawn and are scattered through the cemetery. The first burial was in 1854, and many notable families of the county from its beginnings are included there.
To the northwest, the ca. 1873 rectory has been extensively altered and added to. It's present appearance is that of an early 20th century four square dwelling. Northeast of the church is a simple, ca. 1901 front gable frame dwelling. Known as the Sexton's house and now used as a thrift shop, it stood on the site of the newer church building and was moved to its present location when that building was built in 1954.
Family buried at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church cemetery include:
m. = maiden name
REFERENCES:
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church is a one-story rectangular structure of red-painted brick, with a two-story brick bell tower centered at the west gable end. The bell tower forms an entry vestibule for the church. Four bays of mitre arch stained glass windows mark the east and west facades. The church stands on a level 27 acre property, with a ca. 1957 brick church to the northwest, across a grassy yard. The church structure is laid in American bond with a row of header bricks every fifth row. There is a frieze board beneath the overhanging boxed eaves, which is returned in the east and west gable ends. The gable roof is covered with synthetic shingle. The east gable end is unfenestrated, with a centered circular brick apse, which appears to be an addition. It has a corbelled brick cornice composed of a course of headers with every other brick projecting, a conical cap covered with standing-seam metal, and a round arch figural stained glass window in the north and south face. The church interior is a rectangular open space lighted by the stained glass windows. The ceiling is a barrel vault with wood ribbing forming square coves over its surface. An elaborately molded cornice runs down the north and south sides of the room. A wide segmental arch provides entry to the sanctuary at the east end of the room. A matching arch provides entry into the circular apse beyond the sanctuary.
The approximately two acre church yard has a cemetery to the north and east. Oak trees line the west (front) of the church lawn and are scattered through the cemetery. The first burial was in 1854, and many notable families of the county from its beginnings are included there.
To the northwest, the ca. 1873 rectory has been extensively altered and added to. It's present appearance is that of an early 20th century four square dwelling. Northeast of the church is a simple, ca. 1901 front gable frame dwelling. Known as the Sexton's house and now used as a thrift shop, it stood on the site of the newer church building and was moved to its present location when that building was built in 1954.
Family buried at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church cemetery include:
- ARANT, Elizabeth Gertrude (m. THORNE)
- THORNE, Blanche Gertrude (m. DEANE)
- THORNE, Columbus Dennis
- THORNE, Merrill Columbus
m. = maiden name
REFERENCES:
- St. Barnabas’s Church website (http://stbarnabastemplehills.org/index.html).
- Maryland Historical Trust. “MD Inventory of Historic Properties.” Inventory No. PG;76A-4. Available at https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/PrinceGeorges/PG;76A-4.pdf.
- Sargent, Jean A. (1984). Stones and Bones: Cemetery Records of Prince George's County Maryland.
- Family Information Compiled From: FindAGrave website, FamilySearch website, and family records.