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By Edwin Schell

As the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference prepares to meet this May in Baltimore for the first time since 1986, this history column will include highlights of Methodism since it began in this historic area.

1761-62
? Robert Strawbridge, an Irish local preacher, settles on a farm in Frederick County and immediately sets off to preach.

c. 1764
? John Evans becomes the first convert: by Elizabeth Strawbridge, Robert's wife.
? Strawbridge erects a log meetinghouse on Sam's Creek near New Windsor.

May 1766
? The first known land deeded for a Methodist Church is at Leesburg, Va.; church is erected by 1768.

June 1766
? John England, Strawbridge's landlord, leaves the Quakers and joins the Methodists.

1769
? John Wesley sends Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmore as missionaries to America.
? Strawbridge builds a log meetinghouse at Bush near Aberdeen and preaches the first Methodist sermon on the Eastern Shore.
? John King preaches first Methodist sermon in Baltimore. 'Dutch' church is begun by dissidents from First German Reformed in Baltimore (now Old Otterbein UMC).

June 1772
? Pilmore begins societies in Baltimore and Fells Point.

Fall 1772
? Francis Asbury, a Wesley missionary, arrives on western shore of Maryland and plans for Lovely Lane Meetinghouse; begins Strawberry Alley Meetinghouse in Fells Point.
? Wesley sends Thomas Rankin, who calls the first conference in Philadelphia; of 1,160 members reported, 500 are in Maryland.
? Asbury and Strawbridge are appointed to Baltimore, which is soon divided into Fredrick and Kent.
? First recorded quarterly conference is held at Presburys in present-day Aberdeen Proving Ground.
? Capt. Thomas Webb preaches first sermon in Lovely Lane Meetinghouse in Baltimore.
? German missionary, Philip Otterbein, is called as pastor in Baltimore with encouragement from Francis Asbury.

The Rev. Edwin Schell is the executive director of the United Methodist Historical Society.