The congregation was organized in 1771 and elected the Rev.Benedict Schwope as its 1st pastor (1771-1774). Charter members came largely from the First Reformed Church. On August 7, 1771, for ninety pounds in Maryland currency ($240.30) trustees Conrad Smith, John Stover, and Valentine Larch took title to four lots on what was then called "Howards Hill". In October of that year a chapel was erected on Conway St. (razed in 1785 to make way for the present brick structure, probably Baltimore's oldest Church building.) The site commanded an unobstructed view of he harbor which at that time came across what are now Light and Charles Streets to within a half block of Hanover Street. The ground was purchased from the General John Eager Howard Estate. Today the Church stands close to railroad yards, Interstate 395 and the recently constructed Festival Hall. Before the advent of the Baltimore and Ohio Freight yards a stream of water flowed nearby, creating much marsh land. The stream is still there, but runs deep underground through a great culvert. The congregation assumed the name of "The German Evangelical Reformed Church." The word "evangelical" was used to indicate not merely the evangelical and spiritual character of the congregation, but it's independence. When the Reformed Church in the famous lawsuit of 1842-6 tried to possess the property, the decision was handed down in favor of the Otterbein Church because of that word, "Evangelical" denoting its independence. The reason the congregation did not call themselves United Brethren is that the United Brethren Church was not organized until 1800. The Church, however, has from the beginning been United Brethern (now Evangelical United Brethren ) and has never had any but pastors of that denomination. This was one of the last requests of Bishop Otterbein, pastor from 1774 until his death in 1813. Tim Robinson *************

I have a photograph that I took in 1999 of Old Otterbein. I remember when I first drove into the city from the airport I was trying to figure my way around the city on a Sunday afternoon. Suddenly out of nowhere there it was - Old Otterbein :) - right in the middle of all these modern structures. A wonderful nod to historical Baltimore. http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~zimzip/balto/churches3.htm#otterbein An enlarged view of the church can be found at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~zimzip/balto/otterbein.htm Karen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Timothy Robinson" <trobinson42@comcast.net> To: <BALTGEN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2002 7:30 PM Subject: [BALTGEN-L] Begginings of Otterbein Church > The congregation was organized in 1771 and elected the Rev.Benedict Schwope > as its 1st pastor (1771-1774). Charter members came largely from the First > Reformed Church. On August 7, 1771, for ninety pounds in Maryland currency > ($240.30) trustees Conrad Smith, John Stover, and Valentine Larch took title > to four lots on what was then called "Howards Hill". In October of that > year a chapel was erected on Conway St. (razed in 1785 to make way for the > present brick structure, probably Baltimore's oldest Church building.) The > site commanded an unobstructed view of he harbor which at that time came > across what are now Light and Charles Streets to within a half block of > Hanover Street. The ground was purchased from the General John Eager Howard > Estate. Today the Church stands close to railroad yards, Interstate 395 and > the recently constructed Festival Hall. Before the advent of the Baltimore > and Ohio Freight yards a stream of water flowed nearby, creating much marsh > land. The stream is still there, but runs deep underground through a great > culvert. > > The congregation assumed the name of "The German Evangelical Reformed > Church." The word "evangelical" was used to indicate not merely the > evangelical and spiritual character of the congregation, but it's > independence. When the Reformed Church in the famous lawsuit of 1842-6 > tried to possess the property, the decision was handed down in favor of the > Otterbein Church because of that word, "Evangelical" denoting its > independence. The reason the congregation did not call themselves United > Brethren is that the United Brethren Church was not organized until 1800. > The Church, however, has from the beginning been United Brethern (now > Evangelical United Brethren ) and has never had any but pastors of that > denomination. This was one of the last requests of Bishop Otterbein, pastor > from 1774 until his death in 1813. > > Tim Robinson > ************* > > > ==== BALTGEN Mailing List ==== > USGenWeb/MDGenWeb page for Anne Arundel Co. - 350 Years of Settlement > 1649-1999 > http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdannear > >