The Founding of the Congregation
The origins of St. John’s Chapel are not very well documented, but local tradition and the original land Deed provide us with some important clues. That Deed reveals that the original name was the “Lower Tilghman Methodist Episcopal Church, South.” The word “lower” refers to its location down the island, as distinct from the older “upper” Methodist church in Tilghman Village. The term “south,” however, has a more significant meaning. John Wesley brought his brand of Protestantism to Georgia and it spread quickly, especially among working people, as an alternative to the more fatalistic beliefs of Calvinism. By 1800 Delmarva was part of this populist movement and Methodism still predominates in the region. Wesley was an abolitionist, however, and the church’s opposition to slavery proved increasingly difficult in the South where some Methodists owned slaves. Finally, in 1846, many congregations broke away from the pro-Union parent church and formed a new Conference, the Methodist Episcopal Church South. What happened here is not clear. We know that in 1891 a group split off from the Tilghman church, founded and built St. John’s Chapel, and affiliated themselves with the MEC South.
Local tradition has it that differing attitudes towards the South led to the conflict, though one may wonder how that subject could split a congregation 25 years after the Civil War. It may have been a dispute between families—the St. John’s founders were primarily from Fairbank and Bar Neck—and the affiliation with MEC South was simply a convenient alternative.
We may never know the full story. It is interesting to note that the Tilghman minister, Rev. J. Morris Lindale, founded a third Methodist church in Fairbank that very same year—1891.

The Building of the Church
On March 13, 1891, John Harrington sold an acre of his farm to the Trustees of Lower Tilghman Episcopal Church South for the sum of $100. He was one of ten original Trustees, who were: William H. Bradshaw, George A. Cummings, Lewis Cummings, George F. Duncan, Frederick Faulkner, Josiah Faulkner, John V. Harrington, John W. Mitchell, Edward R. Tyler, and Walter Weber. The parcel was adjacent to Fairbank School on the northeast corner of his field at the foot of Bar Neck Road. Many years earlier, the Harringtons had provided land there for residents to construct the island’s first schoolhouse. (It was called Tilghman School until 1887; when a second school was built up the island, it became Fairbank School.) Lumber for the new church was obtained in North Carolina and transported to Tilghman’s Island on a skipjack. While anchored in Black Walnut Cove, the boat overturned in a storm and all the lumber went adrift. (Some suspected foul play.) In any event, the congregation salvaged most of the wood and construction got underway. The church building was completed later in 1891, as shown on its cornerstone. The cost was $2000.

Ministry
The Deed from Harrington to the Trustees did more than define the property lines. It also made clear that the new church was to operate under the rules of the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and indicated the hope that the Conference would supply a minister. The Deed added, however, that if they did not supply one, then “a minister of any Christian denomination may be selected by a majority vote of the Trustees.” Actually, they succeeded in getting a minister within two years. In 1893, the Reverend Charles Kitchens Millican (1864-1934) arrived to serve St. John’s Chapel and Royal Oak. When he left two years later, he was presented with a splendid Tithing Quilt. Some 30 ministers followed, uniting the people of the southern villages in Christ, with one another, and to the Chapel.

The Cemeteries
The cemetery always has been of key importance to the Trustees. The Deed stipulated that “at least one-half of the parcel shall be used as a burying-ground for the dead” and that the Trustees and their successors should sell plots there at reasonable prices “to any person.”
To the original South cemetery, a North cemetery was established in the 1970s. In 2004, through the generosity of neighbors Ray & Peg Alcorn and Ed & Nannabeth Sanders, the land area of St. John’s Chapel was increased for the first time in 115 years, permitting the creation of a new “West” cemetery.

Decline
Over the years the Chapel and its grounds have been lovingly tended by its congregation whose generations lie at peace in the churchyard. By 1987, however, that congregation gradually dwindled to a point where it was no longer feasible to continue St. John’s as an active church. Accordingly, the Methodist Conference placed the Chapel in “limited-service” status. That arrangement limited the minister’s responsibilities to four worship services per year, but did not restrict the number of weddings, funerals, christenings, and personal celebrations.

Restoration
The Chapel deteriorated for some years after regular services stopped. Then, in 1995, the minister reported an inquiry from a private party who wanted to purchase and move the Chapel. Unwilling to allow their beautiful Chapel to become another antique store, the Trustees promptly refused the offer. But this incident served as a clear warning that retaining the Chapel meant preserving it.
Trustees Donna Wilson and Bobbie Harrison promptly enlisted some interested residents and formed the Friends of St. John’s Chapel Committee. The sole purpose of the Committee was to provide for the restoration of St. John’s Chapel to as close to the original condition as possible and to make improvements deemed necessary. Fund-raising activities started immediately.

In 1998, work began in earnest to restore this historic landmark to its original beauty and character. Much has been accomplished:
• The damaged shingle roofing was removed and replaced with a metal roof replicating the original at a cost of $15,000.
• The interior ceiling and walls were repaired and painted.
• The woodwork in the entranceway was restored.
• Worn carpeting was replaced.
• A heating and air conditioning system was installed.
• A walkway with commemorative bricks was created
• Perimeter areas were cleared of brush and the ground leveled
• The historic stained glass windows were protective shields.
• Fallen and tilted grave stones were straightened and reseated. 
• A comfort station was purchased and installed.
• Low spots in the cemeteries were filled and reseeded.
• Shrubbery was removed; a flower garden & trees planted.
• Fill and reseed low spots in north cemetery.
• Ownership of burial plots were documented where possible.
• Replace aged vinyl siding with long-lasting clapboards.
• Vestibule and bell tower renovated
 

Reactivated

The Chapel continued to function in limited capacity, hosting three traditional services: Homecoming, Christmas Eve Service, Easter Sunrise Service with an occasional wedding, funeral or baptism.  The church became independent from the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and became incorporated as Friends of St. Johns Chapel, Inc.  In 2013, the IRS granted 501(c)3 non-profit status to “Friends of St. John’s Chapel, Inc.” A request for independence was approved by the Methodist Conference and Tilghman United Methodist Church trustees on April 28, 2013. The Trustees agreed that the church should be used by the community.  As it happened, a Tilghman native who along with her husband, both ordained ministers who had lived in the Pittsburgh area for 40 years, retired to Tilghman. Rev. Rob and Linda Haddaway King agreed to hold a non-denominational service at the Chapel the first Sunday of the month. In September 2019, the Trustees voted to hold services on the first and third Sundays of the month. Due to congregational demand, the Trustees agreed to open the church for services every Sunday starting June 2021.The services are well attended and everyone is welcome! The pastors interact regularly with local pastors in the Bay Hundred Area and they are invited to speak. Offerings taken during the services serve to help with the maintenance of the church. 

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Recent Restoration

As the congregation began to grow, it became evident that the Chapel would need additional work. The balloon architectured building had no insulation.  The comfort station had passed its prime. The 26 year old HVAC system in the attic was inefficient and starlings had been inhabiting the steeple for over 20 years!  Thankfully we had an anonymous benefactor that was concerned about the sustainability of the Chapel and contributed to the restoration effort. We began the renovation with the steeple. Birds had pecked holes in the cedar shake shingles and were nesting in the steeple! The Talbot Builders and Son crew stripped off the old shingles to replace them with fiberglass shingles and discovered 200lbs of nesting debris underneath!  Our benefactor said as long as you have the contractors there - do what needs to be done.  Standing water was found under the Chapel and a sump pump was put in. Next Connors put in a new split unit HVAC system was installed. The building was insulated and new wood and siding was installed. Fluharty's Electric made sure all of the electric connections were up to date for each project.  A much needed Restroom Trailer replaced the old porta potty. McHale Landscaping & Design redid Joy's Garden replacing the loose stones with brick so that those who used a walker could get back to the restroom! Stinchcomb Land Improvements did an amazing job grading the cemetery and planting new grass. Our cemetery was no longer underwater!  Finishings touches to the interior of the building included floor refinishing by Gary Grassini, new carpet by Higgins & Spencer and repainting the interior by Mark Cummings.  A new audio sound system was installed by Mid South Audio and a new shed was purchased for storage.  The most recent upgrade by the combined efforts of Stincomb Land Improvements and Danny Harrison enlarged and paved the driveway so that our handicapped visitors would not have to park on the road.  It is nothing short of a miracle of provision that these upgrades were possible. We give God all the Glory. Our anonymous benefactor has succeeded in his effort to ensure that St. John's Chapel would continue to serve the Tilghman community.
 

The Crown Jewel of St. John's Restoration

The Tithing Quilt Given to Rev. Charles Kitchens Millican Returns to St. John's

The links below tell the story of the St. John's Chapel tithing quilt given to Rev. Charles Millican in 1896 as a fair well gift when he was assigned to  to a new congregation in Fairfax Virginia. When Miss Minnie Harrison discovered the quilt, Miss Rose Garvin began to search for it.  Gary Crawford joined in the effort to locate the quilt. He wrote an article in the Tidewater Times (linked below) and several articles in his local newsletter in hopes of finding the whereabouts of the quilt - to no avail. When Linda King took over the administration of the Chapel in 2016, she asked several local quilters if they would look for it but again, nothing was found. In 2024 John Kinnamon received a phone call from Lisa Millican the last surviving member of the Millican family.  Lisa did not know the quilt existed until her father, John Millican passed away. As she was going through his belongings she came across and old trunk that held the tithing quilt gifted to her great grandfather 130 years ago. She began to search for St. Johns Chapel and found our website with John Kinnamons phone number.  The great-grandaughter of Charles Millican connected with the great-grandson of Robert Kinnamon. In November of 2026 John Kinnamon and Linda and Rob King made a trip to Kitty Hawk, NC to meet Lisa and to bring the quilt home. The congregation of St. John's Chapel will celebrate its return at the October 11, 2026 Homecoming. The quilt is in the process of being documented. The family names are still familiar to local Tilghman residents and most are found on the 1900 Census. Stay tuned!

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