Garrett Memorial Church

John W. Garrett built Garrett Memorial Church in 1869 as a memorial to his brother Henry S. Garrett, who died in 1867 after choosing the site for a church but before construction began. Early residents called it "the stone church" because it was the first church in Oakland built completely of stone. The Garrett brothers were long affiliated with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and John W. Garrett chose stone from a quarry near Rowlesburg, W. V., beside the railroad tracks, a source of quality building stone used by the railroad for bridges and foundations. Garrett Memorial Church first served as a community church for various Christian denominations, though primarily Presbyterian and Episcopal congregations. In 1874 the Episcopal congregation built its own church, and in 1903 the Garrett family gave title to the property to the Presbyterian Church of Oakland. After the Presbyterian congregation dwindled away, the Episcopal congregation returned and began holding services in the building in 1936. In 1962, when the building was almost 100 years old and needed extensive repairs, the Presbyterian Church gave the Episcopal congregation title to the building; renovations began that year and were completed in 1966. It is now a place of worship named St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. It is also sometimes called the "Church of the Presidents" because four Presidents of the United States attended services there while visiting Garrett County: Ulysses Grant, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, and Grover Cleveland.

Oakland, Maryland · United States