About Us
St. Anne's Episcopal Church is a spiritual sanctuary truly born of family love. Determined that their aging mother would have a place to worship closer to home, five children banded together to build an Episcopal church in Smithsburg. By their energy, zeal, love and great devotion, they succeeded in erecting St. Anne's Chapel - appropriately named in honor of both their mother, Ann, and her Patron, Saint Anne - grandmother of our Lord Jesus.
A Brief History
In 1825, a young doctor named Elijah Bishop moved to Smithsburg, Maryland and set up practice in nearby Cavetown. Charming and bright, Dr. Bishop quickly became the leading physician in the Smithsburg area, with his practice becoming well-known throughout the region. Seeking to remedy the doctor's single situation, a local family introduced him to a family friend, Ann Hoye. The two hit it off famously and were married in May of 1828. Elijah was 31, Ann was 27.
The Bishops enjoyed a strong marriage and friendship, and placed great emphasis on respecting one another's individuality and spiritual beliefs. It is stated that in addition to running her large household and being an active church volunteer, Ann worked so closely with her husband that he often joked he would lose his patients to her care. Together, they welcomed 8 children into their family, 5 of whom lived into adulthood.
A devout Episcopalian, Ann was confirmed during her 18th year at St. John's Church in Hagerstown, and spent more than 50 years volunteering in its various ministries. Elijah supported her wholeheartedly in these endeavors until his death in 1870.
Shortly after losing her husband, Ann's health began to decline. It became increasingly difficult for her to make the journey from the family home in 
Smithsburg to St. Johns Church in Hagerstown. Finally, she was unable to endure the trip and could no longer attend worship. Determined that their mother have a place to worship, the five surviving Bishop children - Benjamin,Elijah, Henrietta, Emily and John - banded together to create a new church home for her in Smithsburg. Emily Bishop donated a portion of land for the church, and the siblings worked tirelessly until the cornerstone for St. Anne's Episcopal Chapel was laid in June 1873. The entire cost of the church building and furniture was about $3,000.
Ann Bishop faithfully attended worship at St. Anne's until her death in 1879. At the Diocesan Convention, which met in Frederick, Maryland in 1897, St. Anne's Chapel received acceptance and officially became St. Anne's Church when the first vestry was elected on June 5th. Continuing in its growth, St. Anne's built its rectory in 1926, and acquired a parish house in 1966.
In the Spring of 2001, our Suffragan Bishop, the Reverend John L. Rabb, gifted us with the St. Anne's rosebush to symbolize his vision for St. Anne's - a vibrant congregation, growing and blossoming in Smithsburg.
