Thirty-Five Year Celebration

Extra chairs had to be placed in the aisles, Saturday, November 29 to accommodate the guests attending the 35th anniversary of the Chestertown Seventh-day Adventist church. An estimated 200 people, including young children, met at the church on Kent Circle and Philosopher's Terrace, first dedicated August 26, 1945.         Sabbath school featured charter members Bessie Savage, Pearl Van Sant, Robert Skeggs; just before the worship hour, Pastor Otis Parks read greetings from Curtis Quackenbush and Mary Bierly, the first pastor and Bible worker in Chestertown, and Bessie Savage read a history of the church, introducing the charter members present. An offering taken by the children for Eastern Shore Academy was four times as much as ususal.         Former pastor Howard Bankes, now of the Chesapeake Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists, presented the sermon for the worship hour "Adventists' Need to Exercise Compassion." Special music was given by Curtis Whit, Betty and Lisa Wood, the Chestertown church choir under the direction of James Brenneman, a trumpet duet by Howard Bankes Jr. and Sr., and Doug Mench. The baptism of Eric Trickett crowned this special service.         Following the church services, the congregation met at Eastern Shore Academy in Sudlersville for a vegetarian luncheon.

From the Kent County News, Dec 1980