John Carrell Jenkins was born on June 14, 1834 and named after his maternal grandfather. Known as “Carrell” to his family and friends, he grew up in Baltimore and was a member of what is now known as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1846 Carrell entered Mount St. Mary’s College Preparatory School in Emmitsburg, graduating in June of 1850 at the age of 16. He then went to work as a clerk in his father’s leather merchant business.
Carrell was described by family as “easy in manner and gentle in voice… generous to a fault, especially to those in distress; ever ready to defend the unfortunate or to repel an unkind word, and never willing to do other than take a man at his best, praising the good qualities and suppressing the faults of others.”
As a young man in his 20’s riots and uprisings in the city of Baltimore became more frequent. Carrell and 300 others joined the Maryland Guard to help quell the violence and protect certain parts of the city. The MD Guard became a prestigious military organization at this time. Locally and nationally the unrest came to a head in April 1861. The first shots of the Civil War were fired and the famous riots in Baltimore took place. In May Federal forces occupied the city and declared martial law. Maryland had been the homeland of the Jenkins family for almost 200 years. Many who sympathized with the South or who were troubled by the takeover of Maryland by the government decided to go south to join the Confederacy – Carrell was among them.
In Richmond Carrell met up with his cousin E. Courtney Jenkins as their regiment was being organized. They enlisted as privates in Company B, VA 21st infantry under Captain J. Lyle Clark. Company B was made up of many from the Baltimore area and became known as the Maryland Guard. Carrell was selected to be a member of the Color Guard.
On July 17th the regiment left camp duty and traveled by train to Staunton, VA. From here they began their march to Valley Mountain as part of General Lee’s Western Virginia Campaign. By August 1st they were encamped in the Allegheny mountains in what is now West Virginia. It rained constantly; measles and sickness swept through the country ranks giving those in the city ranks – including Carrell – additional duties.
Carrell’s cousin Courtney wrote,
“There was no more cheerful or faithful soldier in that little army of 5,000 men than was Carrell Jenkins, and it became proverbial that even the ‘nine-days-in-the-week’ rain, as the boys called it, could not wash out the droll humor and light-heartedness of Carrell.”
By September 21st Carrell was added to the sick list. Courtney was assigned to be his nurse. On the 24th Carrell was removed to a sick wagon and began a long arduous journey of over 50 miles to the nearest hospital in Warm Springs, VA. The rain and mud made it difficult – a rough ride over mountains and across rivers.
On the night of October 1st, they arrived in Warm Springs; however, it was clear that Carrell’s case was hopeless. Typhoid fever was confirmed, and pneumonia also aggravated his symptoms. When on October 10th Carrell was told that there was no further hope for his life, he begged his cousin and caretakers to pray for and with him. And when told that no priest was available, he clutched his blessed medal and scapular which hung around his neck and made his peace with God. He left affectionate and tender messages for all at home and thanked others for their care of him.
At 7:40 on the morning of October 11, 1861, John Carrell Jenkins passed away. His body was carefully prepared for removal and that morning he, escorted by Courtney, was taken by train to Richmond. That Sunday a funeral took place at Richmond’s first Catholic Cathedral, St. Peter’s, with the Bishop officiating. His remains were temporarily buried on the Cathedral grounds until 4 years later when his father was able to take Carrell home to be laid to rest alongside other family members.
Approximately 20 years later, the Jenkins family requested that a chapel be built somewhere in western Virginia in memory of their deceased loved one. The request was granted by Bishop John Keane of Richmond, Virginia and the cornerstone was laid on October 7, 1883 in Front Royal, Virginia.
It is said that the first Mass ever held in Warren County was celebrated in a railroad camp in 1872 by Rev. John Joseph Kain of Harper’s Ferry. Until St. John’s Church was completed, Mass was celebrated in the home of George W. Macatee and frequently in the Crudden home in nearby Riverton.
The land upon which St. John's Church was built was donated by George and Henrietta Macatee. Henrietta was a distant cousin to John Carrell Jenkins. The estimated value of the property was $200, with construction costs estimated at $5,500. The architect was Major R. J. Black of Richmond. Captain Gustus A. Macatee, a brother of George Macatee, was the contractor. The stone foundation was laid by Ripberger of Strasburg and the brick work was done by Pine Brothers of Richmond. Construction began under Rev. Denis Joseph O'Connell in 1883. O’Connell was appointed rector of the North American College in Rome and so the church was completed under his successor, Rev. James B. O'Reilly. The Jenkins family paid for the entire church to be built and even provided the pews, bell, altar, sacred vessels and vestments. Some of these items are still in use at St. John’s Church.
Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church was dedicated on September 7, 1884 by Bishop John Keane, who was assisted by Reverend O'Connell; the Reverend D. Foley of Baltimore was the Celebrant of the High Mass, with Reverend O'Reilly assisting.
A marble tablet was placed on the wall of the Church where it remains today, reading:
Pray for the Soul of John Carrell Jenkins - Died October 11, 1861 -
Out of Whose means Principally this Church has been Erected
At this time St. John’s Church was a mission church with priests from Winchester coming once a month to administer the sacraments and celebrate Mass. On July 6, 1940 St. John’s was designated as a parish, with its first pastor being Fr. Martin T. Quinn.
On June 24, 1998 a new larger church was dedicated next to the original, under the pastor Fr. William Ruehl. The original church was designated part of the Front Royal Historical District in 2003 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A renovation of the original church was undertaken in 2006-7 and it continues to serve as an Adoration Chapel to this day.
