African-American Historic and Cultural Resources in Prince George’s County, Maryland

Nottingham-Myers Church is shown here in a May 1983 photograph in its original configuration. An addition has since been built onto the south elevation.

86B-05

Nottingham-Myers Methodist Episcopal Church & Cemetery 15601 Brooks Church Road Historic site; built 1939

T

he main block of this church was built in 1939, but it was preceded by earlier structures on the site. In 1867, John H. Skinner, a prominent landowner in the Nottingham area, deeded one acre of his Mansfield Farm to five black trustees for the purpose of establishing a Methodist church and a schoolhouse. A small log meeting house was soon constructed, built by the local families with materials provided by the Freedmen’s Bureau. This building served not only as the first schoolhouse for black children in the area, but as a place of worship that came to be known as Brooks Church in honor of one of the original trustees. The log building was replaced by a frame structure, completed in 1889. The main block of the present church was built during the pastorship of Frederick Myers. The Reverend Myers supervised the construction of the building, which was carried out by members of the congregation. In honor of the pastor, the church was renamed Brooks-Myers Methodist Episcopal Church. A south addition was completed late in 1983, adding a choir/conference room and pastor’s study.

Now known as Nottingham-Myers, this church is significant not only for its architecture, but also for its important place in the religious and education history of AfricanAmericans in rural southern Prince George’s County.

222 CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES African-American Historic and Cultural Resources

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African-American Historic and Cultural Resources in Prince George’s County, Maryland

Published on Feb 9, 2012

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Th is book presents individual properties and communities that are signifi cant to the African-American history of Prince George’s County. Th e 181 properties include residences, churches and cemeteries, schools, fraternal lodges, a monument, an airfi eld, an amusement park, archeological sites, and commercial establishments; the 19 historic communities include both urban subdivisions and rural villages, as well as early towns and retreat communities. For most individual properties there is at least one illustration or photograph, an architectural description, and a summary of the resource’s historic signifi cance. For each community, there is a map, graphic illustrations, and a history of the community’s development and signifi cance.