Slate Ridge Presbyterian Church has stood on the Maryland side of the Mason-Dixon Line for more than two and a half centuries. The congregation grew out of a log church in the Barrens in 1750, when its original location in York County, Pennsylvania, was the first Presbyterian church in southern Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna River. Today the building sits in Whiteford, Maryland, only a few yards south of the historic boundary, and continues to serve the surrounding countryside under the tagline "Disciples Creating Disciples." As a member congregation of Donegal Presbytery, Slate Ridge remains rooted in the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition while functioning as a small, family-shaped church for the Whiteford community.
A Liturgical Service with the Sanctuary Choir
Sunday worship at Slate Ridge is described by the congregation as a liturgical service that "honors the beauty and richness of our heritage, centered around a biblical message, featuring music led by our Sanctuary choir." Services typically run about an hour and follow a traditional pattern, with rich congregational singing of hymns and biblically based preaching that the congregation describes as practical for everyday life. The Sanctuary choir rehearses on Sunday morning at 10 AM and then helps lead the music each week, blending classical, contemporary, and hymn-based pieces at the organ.
Children are encouraged to remain in the service with their families. For those who prefer, Kids Worship is offered during the service so younger children can step out and learn at their own level. Visitors are welcomed warmly; the congregation explicitly invites newcomers and encourages them to come as they are, noting that "church is where people should feel loved, welcomed, and at home."
Pastor Carroll Fitzgerald and the Life of the Congregation
The Rev. Carroll Fitzgerald was installed as pastor of Slate Ridge on January 14, 2024. A graduate of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (April 2022), Fitzgerald came to ministry as a second career after decades in executive sales for companies across the United States and into Canada, much of it following early work as a construction electrician and project manager. Before arriving at Slate Ridge he had served as regular pulpit supply at Churchville Presbyterian and as a guest preacher at other churches in the Baltimore and Donegal Presbyteries. He brings what the church calls "a lifetime of worldly experiences along with his love of God and desire to minister to everyone."
Twenty pastors have shaped Slate Ridge over its long history, deepening the members' faith and commitment to community along the way. The congregation's 50-year members are honored for that milestone, with the most recent class of long-time members recognized in October 2025.
Bobbie Johnson at the Organ
Music has been a thread running through Slate Ridge for generations, and organist Bobbie Johnson is part of that continuity. She has served as Slate Ridge's organist since 2006, after many years as assistant organist and pianist in the music program. Her roots in the church reach back to her great-grandfather, the Rev. A. Lewis Hyde, who pastored Slate Ridge for 43 years. Her parents and grandparents were active lifelong members; she was baptized at Slate Ridge, grew up in the church, became a member more than fifty years ago, and was married in the sanctuary to her husband John "on a hot August day long before we had air conditioning." Three of their grandchildren have also been baptized at Slate Ridge.
Bobbie tries to include a mixture of classical, contemporary, and hymn-based numbers in her weekly selections and draws on the training she received from her teacher and predecessor Eleanor Thompson, regularly using music passed down from Eleanor's repertoire. Her goal, she says, is to provide "an uplifting and devotional accompaniment to our worship experience."
Clean Plate at the Slate
The first Wednesday evening of each month, Slate Ridge opens its Fellowship Hall from 5 to 7 PM for Clean Plate at the Slate, a free community meal the church describes as "a meal for everyone." Donations are accepted but not required. The menu changes month to month; recent offerings have included shepherd's pie, sides, and desserts. The meal is cancelled when Harford County Public Schools are closed or dismiss early, and the church keeps a contact list so regulars can be notified of any changes. Clean Plate is as much about fellowship as food: the church sees it as an opportunity for "great food and friendship" and a way for neighbors from across the Slate Ridge area to gather around the table.
Walking with Mason-Dixon Community Services
Slate Ridge's outreach beyond its own walls centers on a long partnership with the Mason-Dixon Community Services Agency. The congregation and its friends have helped meet the needs of community members for years through contributions of school supplies, pantry items, and Easter baskets. The congregation is described as "generous in helping to meet the needs of community members," and this partnership with the local agency remains a primary way the church cares for neighbors in the wider Whiteford area.
Messages and the Calendar of Scripture
An extensive archive of sermons is maintained, most of them preached by Pastor Fitzgerald and supported by large-print bulletins. Recent sermon titles show a steady walk through the liturgical seasons, including "God's Amazing Grace" from September 2026, "Living Stones" (Psalm 31 and 1 Peter 2), "The Elixir of Life" (Exodus 17, John 4), "Our Lord - The Word" (Genesis 1, John 1), "He's Alive!" (Psalm 150, John 20), and "Empty Promises" (Luke 24, John 19-20) at Easter. Lenten messages include "Here Comes the King!" on Zechariah 9:9 for Palm Sunday and "Wings that Protect" on Isaiah 31 and Matthew 23. The Christmas Eve service is an annual fixture, and the church also marks other seasons with sermons such as "All are Welcome at the Feast," "Making Time," and "Chosen by God." Several recent messages have been recorded and posted on YouTube, allowing members who are traveling or unwell to keep up with the sermon.
Slate Ridge also publishes The Slate newsletter, keeping the congregation informed about news, events, and ongoing happenings. Office hours run Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 AM to 3 PM; a prayer line is available by calling the church at 410-452-5177.
Planning a Visit
Slate Ridge describes itself as family. Worship lasts about an hour, follows a traditional style with hymns and the Sanctuary choir, and offers Kids Worship for those who want it. Dress is comfortable; the congregation encourages visitors to come "in a way that is most comfortable for you." The church sits at 1630 Chestnut Street in Whiteford, Maryland, just a stone's throw from the Mason-Dixon Line, and can be reached at 410-452-5177 or srpc@verizon.net for questions or to be added to the Clean Plate contact list.