| 15 South Mulberry Street Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 301-733-3565 |
| MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Hagerstown Church of the Brethren is to celebrate the love of Jesus Christ and glorify the Lord by striving to live as Christ lived, experiencing the power of God's healing in our lives. We seek to nurture our faith community through prayer, music and the proclaimed Word, while enthusiastically reaching out to others with compassion, respect and love for everyone so that we may grow in faith and commitment together. VISION STATEMENT Journeying with Christ - Serving Our Neighbors - Uniting at the Master’s Table |
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| Unsung Brethren |
| Ann Gilbert Rowland was born – December 9th 1811 – on her father’s (Jacob Gilbert) 500 acre farm at Long Meadows just north of Hagerstown, Maryland. It was said no woman in the Church of the Brethren lived a more, “ . . . thrilling and inspiring life than Ann Rowland." In 1853, Ann Rowland donated two and one-half acres of land for the construction of a new church in the Long Meadow District. Ann and her husband, Jonas, personally baked the bricks, laid the foundation and built the church at their own expense. Rowland’s Meeting House is now called the Longmeadow Church of the Brethren. Ann and Jonas were parents of 10 children. Unfortunately, Jonas injured his spine and died in 1855. The accident left Ann with the enormous task of raising a large family, which she trained all her children in the “ways of the Lord.” A story has been handed down through the family that Confederate General Robert E. Lee once met Ann Rowland. This contact would have been as Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was marching towards or retreating from Gettysburg in 1863. The tale goes Ann called on the general whose headquarters was at the “Dunker Church,” where she demanded he hand over the pulpit Bible. With admiration Lee explained, “Mrs. Rowland, we use this Bible in our morning worship. I pledge this Holy Word shall be kept safely and no harm will come to this place.” The “strange encounter” at Long Meadow would forever be etched in the minds of Gen. Lee and Mrs. Rowland. Ann Gilbert Rowland’s earthly journey ended – September 28th 1888. The body was originally buried in the family graveyard. Early the next morning, the day after the funeral, a strange event took place. Neighbors on the way to City Market in Hagerstown spotted a faint glow; two men were discovered digging in Rowland’s fresh grave by light of a coal oil lamp. The would-be grave robbers were reported to be a local doctor and his son – perhaps wanting to do an autopsy to see just what made this devoted Brethren lady tick. Later, the family had Ann’s body removed to Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown. |
| Ann Gilbert Rowland |
When the new cemetery was laid out at
Longmeadow Church, Jonas Rowland
and his wife were supposedly put there
together. This writer was informed,
however, by a member of the Rowland
family, to prevent another attempt to
steal Ann’s remains, she is still resting
in Rose Hill Cemetery. “Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of His
saints.” Psalm 116:15
Longmeadow Church, Jonas Rowland
and his wife were supposedly put there
together. This writer was informed,
however, by a member of the Rowland
family, to prevent another attempt to
steal Ann’s remains, she is still resting
in Rose Hill Cemetery. “Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of His
saints.” Psalm 116:15
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