Our History
We praise God for his work in us since 1843.
The Church of the Ascension began its journey on November 28, 1843, when a small group of concerned local Episcopalians met for the purpose of organizing a congregation in Westminster, which at the time was a small village with a population of approximately 500. In May 1844, the Diocesan Convention, held in Baltimore, voted to grant the formal organization of the “Parish of Ascension.” Fundraising began and in August 1844 ground was broken on our Stone Church. In May 1846, on Ascension Day, Church of the Ascension was consecrated.
Stone Church "Then"
This original building, now affectionately referred to as the Stone Church, exemplifies the Neo-Gothic architectural style advocated by the Ecclesiological Society in the 19th century. The Stone Church has been modified only slightly in the past 170-plus years, and is recognized as an historic property by the Maryland Historical Trust.
Foundations Sunday School (Grades K - 5)
Stories
The Foundations Class (Kindergarten - Grade 5) class will learn stories in the Bible. We will meet Bible characters like Joshua, Jonah, Samson, Ruth and Naomi, David, and Samuel encouraging students to think about how their stories impact us today and what we learn from them. During the Christmas and Easter seasons, the stories will shift to learning about Jesus' life and the love He has for us.
The class will engage in projects serving the community like Toys for Tots, Carroll County Humane Society, and Friends and Family. They will participate in the Carroll County Peep Show at Easter developing and creating the idea for the entry based on concepts learned during Sunday School to show God's love during the Easter season.
Explorations Sunday School (Grades 6 - 12)
The Explorations Sunday School class will use the Episcopal Curriculum for Youth. Our first topic is "Relationships." Sub-topics will include: Knowing Ourselves, Getting to Know Others, Costs of Relationships, True Friendship, Romantic Love, Getting Along with Family, Respecting Others. Each session will begin with Prayer, Scripture, and a Personal Story. The Personal Stories, written from the perspective of a young person, focus on the heart of the topic for that session.
Our goal this year will be to more and more fully step into our own grown-up faith that will offer us a life-long relationship with God. We'll aim to buddy up with grown-ups in our church, the younger children, and offer outreach to our community. All are welcome!
