About Us

The Episcopal Church follows Jesus into loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God,

with each other, and with the earth.

We are a small, welcoming, inclusive church that reaches out to those in need in the community. We believe each of us is called to a ministry of loving God and our neighbors. Our service is at 9 a.m. on Sundays with special services on designated days. Please join us! The Sunday service lasts approximately one hour and everyone is invited to a coffee hour afterwards. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 9:a.m. to 3:00p.m. and you are welcome to come into the church for prayer. Harriet Chapel is a member of the Thurmont Area Ministerium and is part of The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. We are very involved in outreach to our community through The Thurmont Food Bank, The Christmas Gift Program, The Summer Lunch Program and many other projects that help our neighbors.

Do you have a question; a concern or a burden you want to share? Do you want to learn more about Jesus, prayer, the Bible or the church? Talk with one of our clergy, they will be happy to meet with you to listen; answer questions and pray with you. You can also talk with parishioners during fellowship time after the service.

People often say "I grew up Catholic" or "I have always gone to another Protestant denomination. Will I fit in?" The answer is "YES!" The service in an Episcopal Church is midway between those in the Roman Catholic Church and those in Protestant denominations such as Lutheran or Methodist. The style of the service ranges from very ritualistic "high church" liturgies, similar to the Roman Catholic church to less structured "low church" services similar to other Protestant churches. The liturgy is steeped in tradition and is similar to those of other churches in The Anglican Communion. Don't worry about knowing what to do. Everything is written in the bulletin and we embrace a wide range of liturgical practices. In the Episcopal Church there both male and female priests and deacons who serve beside lay leaders and we are governed by bishops. Each church has it's own vestry that, along with the clergy, makes day to day decisions for their parish.

…you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord… Ephesians 2:20-22

Our History

Catoctin Episcopal Parish – Harriet Chapel is located in the village of Catoctin Furnace, three miles south of Thurmont. The village was built around an iron furnace, known as The Johnson Furnace that began production in 1776. As the furnace operations grew so did the population around it and weddings, funerals and church services were held outdoors or in a temporary building. In 1827, Harriet Brien persuaded her husband, John, who was the owner of the furnace at that time, to construct a church for the workers. Construction was completed in 1828, and services were led by a Moravian pastor from Graceham. The pastor conducted services in the chapel every other week but soon the five mile trek on the back of a donkey and his responsibilities in Graceham made it too difficult for him to continue. John Brien, approached his church, All Saints Episcopal Parish in Frederick for assistance.

On October 25, 1833, Harriet Chapel was consecrated by the Episcopal Bishop of Maryland and became a mission church of All Saints’ Episcopal Parish. Harriet Chapel remained a mission church until 1921, when it became Catoctin Episcopal Parish.

In 2017 The Frederick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented Harriet Chapel, Catoctin Episcopal Parish with a bronze historic marker. This marker assists the many visitors who drop by see the quaint parish or to rest and pray in the chapel or the gardens.

Quick Facts:

Harriet Chapel is named after Harriet McPherson Brien, who was the wife of the owner of the iron furnace when the church was constructed. Harriet died in April 1827, prior to the construction being completed.
Harriet Chapel is part of the Historic Catoctin Furnace Area. For more information on events and the museum go to http://catoctinfurnace.org
Several presidents have worshiped at Harriet Chapel including Lyndon B. Johnson, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

Link to Brochure and Our Photo Album