This collection contains books, land records, articles, journals and print material. It delves more deeply into the history of St. Martin’s Church and less so for the others. Four churches are covered in the collection They are: Prince George (Dagsboro, DE), St. Paul’s (Berlin, MD), St. Martin, (Showell, MD) and Worcester Parish in general. There is also a book on the history of the Anglican Church in Maryland, interesting manuscript on the Changing Patterns of Slavery in Worcester County and informative material on colonial inventories.

In 1692, the Church of England was established in the colonies when a royal governor succeeded Lord Baltimore.  There were 13 parishes established within the five counties of the Eastern Shore, one being All Hallows Parish, located in what is now known as Snow Hill.  Today all parishes on the shore fall under the guidance of the Diocese of Easton.  All Hallows first church was built between 1697 and 1700.  St, Martin's Chapel, fell within the All Hallows Parish and was built around 1703 between Friendship and Showell, MD.  

During the mid 18th century, parts of Somerset County experienced significant growth and in 1742, Worcester County was carved from Somerset County with All Hallows Parish falling within the boundaries of the newly formed county.  With St. Martin's Church more than 30 miles from All Hallows, coupled with the growth in and around St. Martin's, a push was made to establish a distinct parish in the northern part of Worcester County.  Worcester Parish was technically established in 1744.  Due to existed regulations, the division could not be implemented until or unless the rector of All Hallows was removed or died.  He passed away in 1753 and within a month, Worcester Parish was formed. 

During this time it was decided to build a new church at St. Martin's but before construction could begin on the new church the Parish turned it attention Black Foot Town.  It decide to first build a church in what is now known as Dagsboro, DE to accommodate the many people who traveled through the area.  Prince George's Chapel was completed in 1757.  In 1750, a new boundary line was drawn between Maryland and Delaware placing Prince' George's Chapel in Delaware but the boundary was not accepted for ten years.  In 1760, Prince George' Chapel was given over to the Diocese of Delaware.  Services were held at Prince George's until 1964.  Three years later, it was given to the state of Delaware for purpose of restoration.  In 1974, it was dedicated as a museum. 

Little is known about the Old St. Martin's Chapel. It served the community from 1703 to 1762 when it was sold at a public auction in to George Cochran for 14 pounds and 1 schilling.  The new chapel was designed by Robert Kirby a vestryman of Worcester Parish.  In 1756, the vestry purchased two acres of land from James Mumford for 5 pounds.  James Johnson was contracted to build the church.  The original cost to build the church was 85,300 pounds of tobacco leaf.  After making additions, the total cost of the endeavor amounted to 103, 300 pounds of tobacco. Similar to tales of today, the vestry encountered setbacks with its contractor.  The vestry was to meet with Johnson in November of 1759 to take possession of the building and make the final payment.  He never showed.  As late as October of the following year, work had yet to be completed.  In an amazing turn, Johnson sued the vestry with the belief that the parish had failed to live up to its obligations.  The exact dispute in unknown but the provincial courts in Annapolis ruled in favor of the vestry.  

The vestry played a significant role in community affairs.  They levied and collected taxes, which was paid in the form of tobacco, issues summons for immoral behavior and assigned tobacco inspectors.  Every year, vestrymen were required to take the Oath of Abjuration in which they acknowledge and declared their loyalty to King George and the House of Hanover and refuse and "abjure" any allegiance to the "ye Pretender James."  The pretender was James Edward Stuart, a Scot who challenged the throne of England.  His father King James II was a devout Catholic.  His subjects were Protestants.  King James was forced to flee England in 1688 when attempted to return England to Catholicism. . 
 
Financial trouble began to plague St. Martin's in the 19th century.  By 1806, the vestry began meeting at St. Paul's Church in Berlin rather than St. Martin's Church.  Services were held sporadically.  With many traveling more than ten miles to reach St. Martin's, many simply stopped attending.  As the area experienced growth, many moved to other areas of the parish making the trip even longer.  During this time, Methodism was in full swing.  Many of St. Martin's congregation converted to Methodism.  The church fell into disarray, even being used as barn.  In 1844, parish members restored St. Martin's and began holding regular services but by the start of the 20th century, the church had once again fallen into decay. 
 

Series I. Prince George’s Chapel, 1975, Program from a concert event held at the Prince George Chapel.  The program provides a brief overview of the history of Prince George’s Chapel beginning in 1755 to its then current status of the museum under the State of Delaware.

Series II. St. Martin’s, 1700 - 1976, Ledger is a photocopied bound volume index. 

Series III. St. Paul’s, 1896 – 1963, Journal detailing the activities of the St. Paul Parish located in Berlin, MD.  The journal reports vestry election minutes, daily operational and organizational needs of the parish, collections and expenses, minutes from the Annual Congregational Meeting, Reports of the Treasurer, the Annual Parish Meeting and other information.  The journal is not in chronological order.  It moves from handwriting to typeset beginning with the year 1948.  (Before an election of the Vestry, the rector and vestry would present to the parishioners a report of their proceedings for the preceding year.

Series IV. Worcester Parish, 1906 - 1835, Register detailing the activities of the Worcester Parish in Berlin, MD.  It details vestry election minutes, daily operational and organizational needs of the parish, and collections and expenses.  Also contains two registers listing a history of rectors for the parish along with the names and dates of marriages, baptisms, confirmations, performed within the parish as well as communicants. . 

Series V. Miscellaneous, 1982 - 1994