Tour participants take in the holiday greenery on the front of Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church on Thursday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Shepherdstown Tour of Historic Churches was held on Thursday afternoon and evening.

Featuring 10 of the town’s historic churches and buildings, the tour appeared to have drawn a similar number of attendees as it had in previous years, in spite of the tour not being held last year.

“I’m amazed at the turnout! Especially since we’re sort of out-of-the-way of all of the historic churches in town,” said Historic Shepherdstown docent coordinator Vicki Smith, after welcoming a group of visitors into nonprofit organization’s museum, which served as a tour stop.

Along with the Historic Shepherdstown Museum, the War Memorial Building served as one of the tour’s stops, as well as a central point for tour information. It also served as a way station for those needing a break from the 1.7 mile tour, with a variety of amenities available to the public, including a refreshment stand with homemade cookies, hot coffee and hot tea and restroom facilities. Historic Shepherdstown board member Stephanie Unger was on-hand inside of the War Memorial Building, ready to welcome guests and share insight into the town’s history.

“The historic nature of our churches is quite fascinating!” Unger said. “Some of these churches have been around since the late-1700s and early-1800s, so we’re very fortunate to have these historical properties around.”

Historic Shepherdstown board member Stephanie Unger, left, chats with Madge Morningstar, of Shepherdstown, in the War Memorial Building on Thursday. Tabitha Johnston

According to Unger, the tour is a chance for the churches to share their history with the community and tourists alike, as well as to share their holiday decorations.

“The reason this is held on the day after Christmas, is to give people a chance to enjoy the churches while they are still decked out for the holidays,” Unger said. “The tour gets the community out and gives them the ability to see inside of these churches that they don’t belong to but want to see inside of.”

The tour was founded in 2018, as an annual event. However, last year, its organizers — Historic Shepherdstown board president Jerry Bock and his partner, Bruce Massey — elected to start holding it every-other-year and thus decided to begin the new pattern last year by skipping the tour. This change seemed to add a little bit of excitement to the event, as well as a little bit of confusion.

“Last year, we had visitors coming from out-of-town. We were all excited to be doing the tour with them, only to then find out that they were not doing it,” said Shepherdstown resident Madge Morningstar, mentioning that the reverse then happened this year. “Since it didn’t work out last year, we forgot about it this year! So we just decided to take a little walk through town and were delighted to find that it was happening again!”

Those who had taken the last tour might have noticed a couple of differences two this year’s tour. First, was the absence of the Shepherdstown Opera House from the tour, as it had joined the tour in 2022, to show off the extensive renovation work that had been completed on its historic structure. Second, was the continuing presence of the former building of Christ Reformed United Churches, though under new ownership. Since the last tour was held, the church has folded and donated its building to the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF).

Contemporary American Theater Festival Artistic Director Peggy McKowen, right, gives a tour of Christ Reformed United Church of Christ on Thursday. Tabitha Johnston

“We were asked to be a part of the tour this year,” CATF Artistic Director Peggy McKowen said, in between giving tours of the church’s sanctuary and bell tower. “One of the things that we are committed to, is honoring the tradition of the church and the congregation that was here. This tour seemed like a good opportunity to show that we are doing just that, by letting people see that it still has much of its original architecture intact. We’re trying to keep what was really beautiful and wonderful about this space intact.”

Since tour attendees last viewed the church in 2022, several changes have been made to the church, including the removal of the pews from its sanctuary. Other changes have yet to be made, including the restoration of the sanctuary’s worn-down hardwood flooring, according to McKowen.

“We were curious about whether people would even come down here, since all of the other tour locations are more centrally located within the town. But we also knew that some people were curious about what we’re doing in here,” McKowen said, noting that a steady stream of guests had visited the church, including some of its former congregation. “It’s been fun, to share with them what is happening here.”

From left to right, Cathy Costantino, of Burkittsville, Md., and Ann Harkins, of Berkeley Springs, check out Christ Reformed United Church of Christ’s bell tower with CATF Artistic Director Peggy McKowen on Thursday. Tabitha Johnston