Chapel on the Hill, near Lewistown, MD, one of Frederick County’s oldest church buildings, is once again open for weekly services. Built in 1833, the red brick structure remains much as it was 173 years ago.

Lamb of God Mission, a mission outreach of the Prelature of the Communion of Corpus Christi, a Catholic (but not Roman Catholic) church is conducting weekly Sunday services in the landmark old church. Sunday Holy Worship and Holy Eucharist are offered at 10:00 a.m. weekly. A Bible study is held Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Chapel on the Hill is located at 11213 Angelberger Road, just east of Beckley’s Camping RV Center off Route 15 North.

"We derive our Apostolic succession from the Catholic Apostolic National Church. Our congregation, under Bishop Philip Zampino, has formed a personal prelature under the provisions of Vatican II and are in dialog with the historic churches, including the Roman Catholic Church," says Rev. James Hamrick, pastor. "We grieve over the many divisions of the Christian Churches and hope to be a bridge."

His own father, Rev. Kenneth Hamrick, pastor of Thurmont’s United Methodist Church (UMC) from 1969, opened the Eyler Valley Chapel in that year, and pastored both churches for 26 years. He passed to eternal life in 2003 and is buried at the historic chapel in the Eyler Valley between Thurmont and Emmitsburg.

Rev. Hamrick was originally ordained in the UMC and pastored several UMC churches in the Harper’s Valley area, but, after his father’s death, studied for the priesthood with the Charismatic Episcopal Church (CEC). Since June, the congregation is no longer affiliated with the CEC and will determine its affiliation.

"We welcome people of all traditions, Catholic or Protestant, in trying to be that bridge. God has blessed us with this beautiful, historic chapel and we feel that we are standing on the shoulders of those who have worshipped here for these 173 years."