2010 The Rockdale Boys Gospel Bluegrass Band at Chester Heights Camp Meeting

 

EVENT DATE:  Sunday, June 13th, 2010

 

 

225 very happy people from over 35 churches attended a lively concert by The Rockdale Boys, with the overflow audience listening from picnic benches and lawn chairs, while dozens of young children enjoyed a good time at the nearby playground while listening to their terrific, toe-tapping, hand-clapping music.  The group features Mark Sutherland on mandolin, Bob Alek on guitar, Harry Gambrill on banjo, Dan Hughs on bass and Rick Shryock on fiddle.  This is the fifth year this highly popular group has performed Chester Heights Campmeeting, and every year they keep getting better and the music gets even sweeter.  

Photos of the concert will soon be available on this website.  Please check back soon.

Their new album on CD was available for sale after the concert and copies were sales were very brisk.   For more information, please visit their website at www.rockdaleboys.com

The audience also enjoyed a rendition of a favorite campmeeting song "Oil In My Lamp" during the intermission, and those in the audience were encouraged to shout the name of their church and be recognized.  An old-time hymn sing was led by Reverend Jimmy Ray Montgomery, the campmeeting's Spiritual Director and pastor of Hamorton Chapel, a United Methodist Church in Longwood Gardens in Chester County, PA.  After the concert, a fellowship gathering centered around refreshments and home-baked desserts, as people met new friends and old.

Special tribute was paid to Dan and Michelle Phillips, who purchased a cottage last year at campmeeting and have made it a labor of Christian love throughout the year, to renovate it for visits by other cottagers and the public.  In addition, the couple actively participate in workday activities with other cottagers, to help prepare our grounds and facilities for campmeeitng each year. Their cottage was open for a tour by those attending the concert. Six of the 65 cottages at Chester Heights Campmeeting are available for sale as Seasonal Retreat Cottages, beginning at $10,000.  For more information, please visit the campmeeting's real estate page on their website.

The Camp Meeting is located at 320 Valleybrook Road (Rte 261,) one mile South of US Route 1 (Baltimore Pike,) at the Smithbridge Road traffic light.

 

Chester Heights Camp Meeting Association is an evangelical religious organization that works with area churches. They are located on 31 acres, with 150 year-old trees, hiking trails, children's playground, several Victorian public buildings, such as an original gazebo that seats 120 people, and 60 century-old Victorian summer cottages. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and “Save Americas Treasures.” The website is www.ch-campmeeting.org or call (610) 494-4707 for information.

 

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