GREEN HILL CHURCH
Who We Are
Green Hill Church, owned by the Diocese of Easton, is faithfully overseen by the Green Hill Church Committee—established under Canon 411 in 2018. This committee includes representatives from the four Episcopal churches of Wicomico County and is supported by dedicated subcommittees for Preservation, Worship, and Fundraising.
The Committee’s mission is to preserve, maintain, and restore historic Green Hill Church (St. Bartholomew’s) and its grounds for occasional worship and for the benefit of future generations, adhering to the guidelines of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation.
Our History
Built in 1733 in what was then Green Hill Town, this church is the sole surviving structure from an ambitious colonial plan to create a thriving port town of 100 lots along the Wicomico River. Originally serving the Anglican community of Stepney Parish—which spanned old Somerset County and parts of Delaware—Green Hill Church played a central role in the region’s early religious life.
Though Green Hill Town declined due to competition from nearby ports, the church endured. Restored and re-consecrated in 1886 as St. Bartholomew’s, it is regarded as the mother church of Wicomico County and is the oldest standing religious structure in the county. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the church continues to welcome guests each August for the annual St. Bartholomew’s Day service and picnic.
Today, Green Hill Church stands as a tangible link to the early days of faith, trade, and settlement on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore.
Green Hill Church Restoration Project
Constructed of Flemish bond brick with glazed headers and retaining much of its original 18th-century woodwork, Green Hill Church has withstood the test of time. Its last major restoration occurred in the 1940s. Since then, maintenance and minor repairs have preserved its character, including the recent restoration of its doors to their historic 1733 appearance.
In partnership with Barton Ross & Partners, LLC, a historic preservation architectural firm, the Green Hill Church Committee has completed a full assessment of the church’s condition. Architect Barton Ross has created a detailed Preservation Plan to guide the upcoming Green Hill Church Restoration Project—an effort to ensure the church remains structurally sound and historically accurate for generations to come.
With the church’s 300th anniversary in 2033 fast approaching, now is the perfect time to restore this treasured landmark to its former glory.
How You Can Help
To bring this restoration vision to life, we need your support.
You can make a difference by contributing to the Green Hill Church Restoration Project. To donate:
- Scan the QR code to give online
- Click the GIVE button
- Or reach out to any member of the Green Hill Church Committee to make a pledge or tax-deductible gift
Help us ensure that this sacred and historic place continues to inspire for centuries to come.