Grounded in Love, Open to All on Seminary Avenue
The Church of the Holy Comforter sits at the corner of West Seminary Avenue and Bellona Avenue in the historic Victorian village of Lutherville, a small Maryland community tucked into Baltimore County about four miles north of Baltimore. The parish has been part of this neighborhood for more than 140 years, and the people who gather there describe themselves with a simple two-line motto: "Grounded in Love. Open to All." Members come as cradle Episcopalians, newcomers to the faith, visitors who wandered in for a single Sunday, and people who simply want a place to pray. The church extends an explicit welcome that crosses every dividing line - race, age, sexual orientation, religion, doubt - and asks only that each person be received as a child of God.
The parish's mission statement calls its members to "spreading the teachings and love of Christ, striving to connect with people from all generations and walks of life through inspirational worship, impactful outreach, and joyful fellowship." Its vision is to be a visible community hub for people seeking an experience of faith and mystery in a safe, profoundly inclusive space, offering an ever expanding embrace to everyone.
From Mission Chapel to Independent Parish
The story begins in 1882, when Holy Comforter was established as a mission parish of Trinity Church in Towson, the seat of Baltimore County. The Rev. Dr. William Henry Harrison Powers, Trinity's second rector, traveled each Sunday afternoon to Lutherville to lead worship. In the summer the small congregation met in a building called Town Hall, across from the Lutherville Female Seminary on Francke Avenue; in the winter they crowded into the dining room of the Landon House hotel on Melanchton Avenue.
In 1888, Amos Swen and John Piersol donated land at the corner of Bellona and Seminary Avenues, and the congregation, led by John M. Nelson, J. Collin Vincent, and the Rev. Cleland Kinloch Nelson, raised funds for a permanent home. The architect T. C. Kennedy designed a modest Gothic style chapel with a gable roof, native pine framing, ash and brass interior fittings, German-siding wainscoting, narrow clapboards, simplified Gothic tracery, and two rose windows flanking the vestibule. Ground was broken on June 21, 1888, and the first service was held on September 27 of that year. Bishop Paret officially consecrated the Chapel of the Holy Comforter on September 19, 1889. Stained glass was added to the two pointed-arch windows in later decades.
For many years the parish remained small - only thirty-six communicants by 1932 - with the rector and assistants from Trinity Church making the trip from Towson each Sunday. Christian education happened in parishioners' homes and at the local fire hall. After the Second World War, suburban growth transformed the surrounding rural landscape, and by the early 1960s the church school had grown to 180 students and teachers. The old chapel could no longer contain the congregation. In 1961 the Rev. Charles E. Danner became the chapel's first vicar; in 1966 he launched a building fund drive. The noted church architect J. Prentiss Browne designed the new church, which Bishop Harry Doll dedicated on Trinity Sunday, June 1, 1969.
The Rev. Joseph T. Webb III arrived in 1973 and steered Holy Comforter toward independent parish status, which the Diocese of Maryland recognized on May 16, 1982, with Webb becoming the first rector. The Rev. Janice E. Gordon served as the second rector for twenty years, from August 1989 until her retirement on August 2, 2009. The Rev. Christopher Tang became the third rector on February 1, 2011. The Rev. Lisa Bornt followed as interim rector from February 2023 to February 2024, and the Rev. Anne Nicholson was installed as the fourth rector on September 29, 2024.
Two Sunday Services, Two Different Moods
On Sunday mornings Holy Comforter offers two celebrations of Holy Eucharist. At 8:30 a.m. the smaller, contemplative service takes place in the 1889 chapel. There is no music at the early service, and attendees appreciate the quieter setting as a way to ease into the day. The bulletin, the readings, and the simplicity of the rite shape a meditative experience that many regulars describe as centering.
At 10:30 a.m. the larger congregation gathers in the 1969 church for Holy Eucharist with music. Worshipers can sing new hymns and old favorites, joined by the choir and led from the organ or piano by the Director of Music. A procession opens the service, followed by Scripture readings, the sermon, the Nicene Creed (the fourth-century statement of faith recited each Sunday), the Prayers of the People, the exchange of the Peace, and Holy Communion. Both services are fully Episcopal in their shape, drawing on the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal.
After the 10:30 service, the coffee hour in the parish hall draws people into a more relaxed gathering that the parish describes as where church really happens. Visitors are welcomed, friendships are renewed, and conversations stretch on past noon.
A Virtual Service for Faraway Members
For anyone who cannot come to the building on Sunday, Holy Comforter provides a pre-recorded virtual liturgy on its YouTube channel. The service becomes available at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning and includes prayer, music, and Scripture from the church. Congregants far from Maryland, members who are homebound, and friends traveling can all worship along at a time that suits them.
What to Wear, Where to Sit, and How to Follow Along
The parish makes a point of telling newcomers that anything from jeans to suits and ties fits in comfortably. There are no assigned pews; sit wherever you like. The bulletin, handed out by an usher, guides visitors through each step of the service. Two music books are used: a large blue hymnal and a green softcover book marked "WLP." The Book of Common Prayer is the small red book.
The congregation stands, sits, and kneels at various points, and the rector reassures newcomers not to worry about doing it perfectly - do what is comfortable. If kneeling is difficult, sit instead. If standing is difficult, sit.
Children are full members of the congregation at Holy Comforter and are always welcome to stay in the sanctuary. A children's area at the back of the church holds quiet activities for those who want to color. Just outside the sanctuary doors, a rocking chair, soft toys, and books wait for an infant whose joy has grown noisy. Many young people serve the parish as readers, acolytes, and ushers.
An Open Communion Table
At Holy Comforter, all are welcome at God's table, regardless of church membership. Both wheat and gluten-free bread are offered. To receive, hold the hands one on top of the other, palms up, and the priest will place the bread in the palm. You may eat the bread and drink from the common cup, or you may dip the bread in the chalice. If you prefer a blessing instead, cross the arms over the chest. If you would rather remain in your seat, that is welcome too.
Getting to the Building
The church sits at the corner of West Seminary Avenue and Bellona Avenue, and most parking is behind the building. Limited spaces are available out front, and designated handicapped parking is located alongside the columbarium to the right of the building. Both the chapel and the church are wheelchair accessible, and although there are interior stairs to the parish hall and offices, a lift is available. During Holy Communion the sacrament is brought to anyone unable to come to the altar; tell an usher.
Drivers coming from the south take I-83 north; from the west, I-695 east to Exit 25 for Charles Street, then across the Beltway bridge to a right on Bellona Avenue; from the east, I-695 west to Exit 26 for York Road, then a left onto Seminary Avenue; from the north, I-83 south and I-695 east. A printable PDF of these instructions is offered for visitors who want to keep the directions handy.
Music in the Parish
Sue Weisman directs music at Holy Comforter, playing the organ or piano for the 10:30 service and for weddings and funerals. A longtime organist with experience in Baltimore-area congregations, she also worked for thirty-two years as a music teacher, librarian, and technology specialist before retiring. She leads the choir and welcomes suggestions of favorite hymns from the congregation. Instrumentalists interested in joining the music program are encouraged to reach out to her directly.
Special Services: Baptism, Marriage, and Funeral
Holy Comforter offers three rites of passage. Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ; each candidate is sponsored by one or more baptized persons. The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage is a solemn public covenant between two persons in the presence of God, with at least one of the couple being a baptized Christian. The Funeral liturgy follows the Burial of the Dead from the Book of Common Prayer, with both traditional and contemporary forms provided. Anyone interested should contact the rector.
Hands and Hearts in the Community
Holy Comforter's outreach is one of the defining marks of the parish. The church is a founding member of ACTC, the Assistance Center of Towson Churches, and keeps the pantry stocked throughout the year with non-perishable food and personal care items. The parish also purchases Thanksgiving baskets at local grocery stores for ACTC to distribute.
Each September, a team travels to the Diocese of Southwest Virginia for a week with Grace House on the Mountain, where parishioners build ramps, stairs, and porches for families in need. No building skills are required, only willingness. Two blood drives are held each year, and the parish collects on average thirty units of blood per drive, enough to help or sustain up to 180 people annually.
Holy Comforter shares its campus with three community groups: Kol HaLev, a Jewish congregation; Active Minds Learning; and Well for the Journey. The parish also supports the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center, ERICA (Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance), and Pot Spring Elementary School. The building hosts, as well, the Ashley Treatment Center Alumni Group, Flutopia, a local chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous (Living Sober), and Overeaters Anonymous.
Midweek and Monthly Rhythms
Beyond Sunday, the parish gathers in several smaller ways. The Prayer Group meets the first Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel, jointly with Kol HaLev. Members sit in a quiet circle, light a candle for each spoken prayer, and lift up the needs of individuals, the community, and the world. A bulletin board in the church hallway also receives written prayer requests throughout the month.
The Lunch Group gathers on the first Friday of each month at noon in the church library. Everyone brings a sandwich or a snack, and the conversation drifts wherever the table takes it.
Saturday Zoom Chat runs from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. most weeks through a recurring Zoom link, drawing members and friends who want a casual check-in with the parish.
The Exploration of the Psalms discussion group, led by Anne Nicholson and a local rabbi, is on hiatus, with plans for the next adult formation activity to be announced.
Serving Inside the Parish
Members of the parish pitch in across a long list of in-house ministries. Acolytes and chalicists assist at the altar at both Sunday services. Readers (lectors) proclaim the lessons and lead the Prayers of the People. Greeters and ushers offer the first hello of the morning and pass the collection plate. The choir and musicians lift the music.
The Altar Guild prepares the vessels, linens, and hangings for each service, with teams serving once a month. The Flower Guild tends the arrangements that adorn the chapel and the church; at Christmas and Easter the whole guild works together. Card Ministry keeps parishioners connected through notes for birthdays, illness, and milestones. Yarnwork Ministry knits and crochets prayer shawls, given freely to those in need, and scarves for clients of Meals on Wheels.
Lay Eucharistic Visitors take communion to people who are homebound, in long-term care, or recovering from surgery, after training by the rector. Sunday Flower Deliverers bring the altar arrangements to the sick, the shut-ins, and anyone who could use a lift. The parish hall's coffee-hour teams and reception volunteers sustain the hospitality that greets visitors each week.
Leadership and Staff
The Rev. Anne Nicholson is the rector. A native of Towson who grew up ten minutes from her childhood home, she holds a bachelor's in sociology and anthropology and religion from Lake Forest College in Illinois, served a year with Episcopal Volunteer Corps in Omaha, Nebraska, and earned a Master of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary. She was ordained to the transitional diaconate and priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland in 2014. Before coming to Holy Comforter, she served as associate priest at St. Margaret's in Washington, D.C.; St. James' in Lothian; and St. John's in Beltsville.
Will Shaw serves as verger and registrar, an ancient Anglican role in which the virge, a processional staff, symbolically clears the way for the liturgy. The Senior Warden is Blaine Hawley, an educator who has been a member of Holy Comforter for twenty-eight years. Robin Rouse, a lifelong member and former Sunday school teacher and altar guild member, serves as treasurer. The vestry also includes Barbara Bachur, Suzy Beck, Nick Knuth, Susan Escobedo, Pat Streett, and Wendy Cardwell.
Sue Weisman is Director of Music. Beth Crosby is Parish Administrator. Peter Crosby is Building Manager. The office is open Tuesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., though visitors are asked to call before stopping by.
Giving
Gifts may be placed in the collection plate during either Sunday service, mailed to the church office, set up as automatic payments through a bank's bill-pay system, or made online through PayPal, debit, or credit card. The parish references Ephesians 5:2 on its giving page: "Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God."