On Saturday, August 29, the Episcopal Christ Church in Port Republic in Calvert County held its 143rd Annual Jousting Tournament. The event is held each year on the last Saturday of August. Before the jousting action, visitors are treated to one of the most historic venues in all of Maryland.
Christ Church is one of the original parishes of the province of Maryland and Calvert County’s oldest continuously worshipping congregation. The church began with a log church standing as early as 1672.
In 1731 a fire destroyed the wooden church, whereupon a new brick building was constructed and was completed in 1735. However, by 1769 the brick building was in such bad shape that the Vestry despaired of repairing it, and received support of the Maryland General assembly in constructing the building presently in use.
The current building was completed in 1772. The façade of the historic structure is the original stucco covering the brick walls. Many other renovations occurred over the years, interior and exterior.
Also on the property is a one-room schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was built circa 1870 and was home to school classes until 1932. This Maryland history site stands in a School House Grove beyond the Parish House.
The one-room school served to educate children in grades 1 through 7 in the same classroom, usually with only one teacher providing instruction in all subjects.
In 1976 the Calvert Retired Teachers Association, looking for a Bicentennial Year project, decided to restore Port Republic School Number 7 and on July 24, 1977, after months of hard work by teachers and community volunteers, the old school bell rang out once more. Visitors are treated to a school that is filled with memories, memorabilia, and a video.
The one-room schoolhouse is now open summer Sundays, 2 to 4 p.m., and by appointment.
Jousting tournaments have existed in Maryland since 1866 and became the official State sport of Maryland in 1962. Many feel the annual tournament held at Christ Church is the best of all competitions.
In distant history, knights would meet at high noon to compete in the joust. The modern day version is not a bloody battle, but one in which the knights (riders) must catch three small rings on their lance while traveling at a full gallop.
At Christ Church, the riders are transformed into knights and are called “Sir Knight” and “Fair Maid”.
Each rider goes through the course three times, which could give them a perfect score if they get a total of nine rings. Onlookers can tell by the pictures accompanying this story that some horses moved faster than others. Competitors that ride faster are the more experienced riders.
The tournament started with the ‘lead-liners’ or beginners. Next to compete were the ‘novice class’ from noon to about 2 p.m. Then the professionals came to compete after treating the crowd to a rousing parade of knights and maids.
