Scott's Chapel - Faith on Both Sides of the Road

A stop on Harriet Tubman, a free self-guided tour.

The congregation of Scott's Chapel formed here in 1812, and Edward Brodess was among its members. Enslaved people were usually made to attend their enslavers' churches, seated at the back or in a gallery, so Rit, Minty and her brothers and sisters may well have sat here with other enslaved families. That is likely, but it is not documented.

What is certain is that Methodism ran deep in Tubman's world, among Black and white Eastern Shore families alike. The faith preached in pews like these shaped her lifelong conviction that God directed her steps, and it shaped the Black churches that sprang up after emancipation, like Malone's back in Peter's Neck.

The present building dates from 1891. Notice the burial grounds: Black graves lie just east of Bucktown Road, while white graves sit behind the church beyond a grove of trees, kept apart in death as in life. Members of the Bucktown community of Tubman's time rest here.

This is an active church with no public access to the grounds, so view it from the road and respect its services.

Getting here: Drive about half a mile north on Bucktown Road; the chapel is on the roadside. Do not park on the church grounds.

Did you know?: The Dover Eight, who fled north together in March 1857 and fought their way out of a betrayal in Dover, Delaware, came from this Bucktown neighborhood. Their escape set up the last stop of this tour.

Photo op: From the road shoulder, frame the chapel with its churchyard; avoid photographing services or mourners.

Nearby: None. The next stop is about 35 minutes away; Cambridge, just off your route, has gas and food.

More on Wikipedia: Bucktown, Maryland · Methodism

Scott's Chapel - Faith on Both Sides of the Road

Stops on this tour