Pastor Jeff Tomlinson
“Lady Preacher” called to be the first pastor of the Dundalk Church of God! That was the big news in Dundalk in October of 1930. The Church of God at Dundalk, originally known as the Dundalk Church of God, had some very humble beginnings in September 1921. Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Adam Miller, along with a woman by the name of Stella Kemp were responsible for the beginnings of the congregation in Dundalk. Along with Dr. & Mrs. Adam Miller, concerned members of the First Church of God in Baltimore (originally located on Highland Avenue), provided staff and workers for the early days of the Dundalk Church.
The first services of the Church of God at Dundalk were held in a large tent erected on a vacant lot near Friendship Circle at Midway and Leeway Roads and services began on September 7, 1921. Mr. Paul Coberly recalls stories of his parents helping with the erection of the tent and providing electricity from their home on Midship Road, for the tent services. The late Helen Dorff (Barton) recalls some of the members canvassing the neighborhood inviting people to the services.
The tent meetings lasted for three weeks. Then, the weather turned colder, and it was necessary for the fledgling congregation to rent space in the Odd Fellows Hall at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Willow Spring Roads. On September 28, 1921, the first Sunday School was held with Mr. Joseph Barton as superintendent.
In January of 1922, Dr. Miller took an assignment as a missionary to Japan, and the work in Dundalk was served by a number of interim pastors for the next few years; Rev. Charles Appel, Rev. J. W. Whitenack, Rev. Paul Moore, and Rev. Clifton Harmon. The meeting location changed a few times during those years and the congregation rented space wherever they could find a building.
A more permanent location was needed. Rev. Marcel Desgalier of the Baltimore Church helped the Dundalk Church secure a portable school building in Highlandtown and it was moved to some property on Dundalk Avenue near Pine Avenue. The portable school building was converted into a place of worship. Rev. Dr. Adam Miller now returned from Japan, preached the service of dedication on April 14, 1930, in the afternoon. Rev. Barney E. Warren, songwriter, and Church of God evangelist, preached in the evening service. In March 1927, the Church was incorporated in the state of Maryland.
In October 1930, the Church called its first full-time minister, Rev. Miss Esther Boyer, a recent graduate of Anderson Bible School and Seminary (later to become Anderson College). Rev. Boyer had been serving as Director of Christian Education at First Church of God in Baltimore when she accepted the call to the Dundalk Church. As a “lady preacher,” her presence was quite a topic of speculation and discussion in the Dundalk community. In a short time, however, she won the love and respect of many in the local community.
Rev. Boyer led the congregation through the second year of the Great Depression and led the Church through a time of rebuilding after a fire damaged the Church building in December 1932. Rev. Boyer guided the congregation in restoring the building and a rededication service was held in February 1933. Later in 1933, Rev. Boyer accepted an assignment as Secretary to the Board of Christian Education for the Church of God in Anderson, Indiana.
A number of pastors have served the Dundalk Church: Rev. John Kane, 1933-36; Rev. Otto F. Linn, 1936-42; Rev. Daniel Schemmer, 1942-49; Rev. Denver Smoot, 1949-53; Rev. Raymond Handy, 1953-75; Rev. Beverly Anderson, 1975-84; Rev. James Creamer, 1985 (interim); Rev. Vernon Allison, 1986-90; and the current pastor, Rev. Jeffery L. Tomlinson, 1990 to the present.
During the years of World War II, the church grew as men and women moved into the Dundalk area to work at places such as Bethlehem Steel, Western Electric, General Motors as well as defense workers. Under the leadership of Rev. Schemmer discussions were held about establishing a building fund and the church began looking for available land. After the end of WWII, the church property was sold and four lots at the present location were secured. On Easter Sunday morning, 1950, the ground was broken for a new church building. The building was completed and dedicated the following Spring.
As the Sunday School continued to expand, a second building fund was started in March 1963. A year later ground was broken for a new Education Building, which was dedicated March 7, 1965. The heritage of the Church of God at Dundalk is filled with memories of people who gave their resources, time, and energies to the service of the Lord.
On September 25-26, 2021, the congregation will celebrate 100 years of ministry in the Dundalk Community. We will be gathering for a special anniversary dinner on Saturday, September 25th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm and then gathering on Sunday, September 26th at 11:00am for Worship. We want to invite any who would like to come to the dinner to let us know of your intention by August 31st. You can call the Church office at 410-284-0722. We also invite any who are interested to attend our morning worship on Sunday, September 26th at 11:00am.
We will have several former members and friends sharing on both Saturday at the dinner and on Sunday during morning worship. As we look to the future, we are looking at some special projects such as raising funds for a parking lot, a wheel-chair lift, and making the building more handicap accessible. We will be sharing more about these projects during the Anniversary weekend celebration.
God has been good to the people of the Church of God at Dundalk and we give all the glory and honor to the Him. We invite you to join us in glorifying God, celebrating His goodness, fellowshipping with old and new friends, and recognizing 100 years of ministry!
Submit news items or articles for possible CDP district use to cdpdistrict@gmail.com