Nearly 20 volunteers gathered under a bright June sun at All Faith Episcopal Church in Mechanicsville, Maryland, on June 13 to restore and repair historic gravesites at one of Southern Maryland’s oldest active church locations.
The effort was led by Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) Local 1 of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., with support from church members, family, friends, and apprentices. Teams worked carefully to lift fallen markers, reset monuments, stabilize aging headstones, and preserve graves that in some cases date back centuries.
Organizers Cherie and Mike Graves said the day was about more than fixing stone. It was about protecting local history, and giving apprentices a chance to apply what they’re learning. They said the volunteers repaired many tombstones, and they hope to continue the work on the opposite side of the cemetery this fall.
Photos from the project show crews using shovels, levels, lifting straps, and hand tools to move and reset large monuments, some weighing hundreds of pounds. Volunteers excavated around damaged stones, leveled foundations, repositioned stone bases, and reassembled markers that had shifted over time due to weather and ground movement. The goal throughout was stability and preservation, not quick cosmetic fixes.
For mason contractors and restoration crews, it’s a clear reminder of what preservation work really demands: patience, teamwork, and specialized knowledge of stone setting, leveling, and stabilization. It also shows how apprenticeship programs can build skill and pride through real-world projects that matter to the community.
Read the full, original article from The BayNet here.