Tinsley Villa
Known Name(s)
Tinsley Villa
Address
South Berlin, Maryland
Establishment Type(s)
Tourist Home
Physical Status
Unknown
Description
Likely located along Germantown Road in South Berlin which is an African American neighborhood surrounding New Bethel United Methodist (formerly Methodist Episcopal) Church at 10203 Germantown Road.
Detailed History
An advertisement in the "Vacation Hints" of the Afro-American newspaper on July 16, 1938 advertised Tindley Villa in South Berlin as a vacation spot for ministers and teachers by Rev. A.E. Martin. Martin was the pastor of New Bethel Church on Germantown Road at the time.
Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) was born in Berlin Worcester County Maryland to enslaved parents. He moved to Philadelphia at 17 and began working at Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church. He learned to read and write and began taking courses to become a Methodist minister. Following his ordination, in 1902, he became the pastor of Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church, which became know as “Tindley Temple” to honor his thirty years as pastor. Tindley was also a hymn writer and “I’ll overcome some day” is the basis for the Civil Rights anthem “We shall overcome,” as well as other songs still included in the Methodist hymnal. (Source: http://taylorhousemuseum.org/pages/tindley.html). Tindley Villa was apparently named to honor him and his work.
