Nanjemoy in Charles County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Mount Hope Church
Established in 1867, Mount Hope Baptist Church is the site of the oldest Baptist African American congregation in Charles County. Rev. A. C. Watts served as its first pastor. Mt. Hope was the founding church for three other African American Baptist churches including Oak Grove (Nanjemoy/Grayton) in 1883, Pleasant Grove (Marbury/Chicamuxen) in 1907, and Little Zion (Hilltop) in 1880, all located in western Charles County. Today the site includes the cemetery established in the late 19th century, the chapel rebuilt in 1941, and an early 20th century restored schoolhouse. Together they reflect the important role of religion and education in the emergence of African American communities after the Civil War.
Erected 2022 by Charles County, Maryland.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.
Location. 38° 28.515′ N, 77° 11.455′ W. Marker is in Nanjemoy, Maryland, in Charles County. It is at the intersection of Bowie Road and Gilroy Road, on the right when traveling south on Bowie Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8610 Bowie Rd, Nanjemoy MD 20662, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Southern Maryland. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Additional commentary.
1. About the marker title
While the marker uses the language Mount Hope Baptist Church, the online resources for the plaque refer to the plaque title as Mount Hope Church.
— Submitted April 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 5, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
