The town of Mount Savage played an important role in the westward expansion of the early United States, particularly in the growth of railroads as a vital means of transporting goods and people.
Iron rails for railroads were first introduced in 1790 in Yorkshire, England. In the United States, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company was chartered in 1827. A decade later, in 1837, the Mount Savage Iron Works were established by the Maryland and New York Coal and Iron Company under the leadership of Benjamin Howell, an Englishman. This company earned distinction for producing the first iron rails manufactured in America. By 1844, it had also constructed the Mount Savage Railroad, linking its mining and manufacturing operations to Cumberland, the National Road, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Many of the company’s managers and workers were English, which influenced the early religious life of the community. The first Episcopal services in Mount Savage were held in 1840 at the Iron Works, with some records noting they took place in a machine shop and others in a pattern house. The Rev. John H. Kehler, serving much like a missionary, was the first minister to lead these services. He also assisted the Rev. Hillhouse Buell at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Cumberland.
Originally a Lutheran minister, Kehler sought ordination in the Episcopal Church. He missed a scheduled service in Mount Savage on August 22, 1841, due to his ordination by Bishop William Whittingham in Cumberland. Two days later, the bishop visited Mount Savage and led services for the congregation in the pattern house.
As the Episcopal community grew, members recognized the need for formal organization. In May 1841, they elected a vestry and applied for recognition as a parish within the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. A Sunday School was established on June 27, 1841, and by July attendance included 45 students and 10 teachers, with average participation later rising to around 100 students and up to 15 teachers.
In 1845, the congregation was granted land by the Maryland and New York Iron and Coal Company to build a church. That same year, Rev. Kehler—signing as a missionary—reported that construction had begun on a wooden church building measuring 45 by 26 feet at a cost of $1,000. The church was consecrated on October 12, 1845, by Bishop Whittingham. Around this time, the congregation changed its name from Christ Church Parish to Saint George’s Church.
The original building stood until 1903, when permission was granted to replace it with a new structure on the same site. The final service in the old church was held on April 26, 1903, by Rev. Dr. Nott, and demolition began shortly afterward. The bell tower, which had called worshippers since 1850, was preserved and attached to the Sunday School building.
Construction of the new church began with the laying of the cornerstone on June 6, 1903, by Bishop William Paret. Although services were initially planned for Easter 1904, the sudden death of Rev. Theophilus Smoot delayed the opening. The completed church was ultimately consecrated on October 13, 1908. Built of stone and brick in the Gothic style, it remains the church known today.
During the tenure of Rev. J. W. Torkington, a new Parish House was constructed by parish members, replacing the old Sunday School building. This work was completed by May 15, 1924.
In 1952, a stone bell tower was added under the direction of Rev. G. Stanley Schwind, again with significant volunteer support from the congregation. The tower features stones representing each state in the union. Nearby, the Chapel of the Resurrection was also built of stone in the cemetery. On May 27, 1978, both the bell tower and Parish House were rededicated—the tower in honor of Father Schwind and the Parish House in memory of Rev. Dr. Torkington.
St. George’s Church marked the 150th anniversary of the Episcopal presence in Mount Savage in 1990 and celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2015, reflecting a long and enduring history in the community.
To find out more about our church history, click the link below for more details and images.