About Andrew Cusack
Writer, web designer, etc.; born in New York; educated in Argentina, Scotland, and South Africa; now based in London. read more
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The Church Resurgent
THE CATHOLIC COLONY of Maryland was first planted in 1634 at St. Mary’s, which became the first capital city of the Calvert family’s palatinate. The attempt to run Terra Mariae as a Catholic feudal state was continually frustrated by a number of fiery Protestant settlers, who eventually broke out into open rebellion in the 1650s while the Civil Wars raged back in England. Happily, Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, sent out an army under Gov. William Stone to restore order to the colony, but was defeated by the Puritan force in March, 1655 at the Battle of the Severn. During the Puritans’ persecution of the Church, all the Catholic churches in Maryland were destroyed, and in 1667 a new ecclesiastical edifice was raised in St. Mary’s: the Brick Chapel.
Rather disappointingly, Catholic governance did not last, and in the early 1700’s, royal authority was stripped from the Calvert dynasty and Maryland was erected as a crown colony, with the Church of England established. The new royal governor locked the doors of the Brick Chapel and forbade its use for any religious purpose, moving the capital to Annapolis. The Jesuit fathers who built the church disassembled it, using elements in a new chapel being built within a manor house, as public Catholic churches were no longer allowed under the law. The first permanent Catholic church in Anglo-America was no more.
THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY years after its original construction and three centuries since its demise, the Catholic Chapel at St. Mary’s City is rising again on its original site. Under the auspices of the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission, archaeological research was completed during the 1990s, money was raised for reconstruction, and the Chapel is being rebuilt now in 2007 using the very same methods that would have been used to construct the original in 1667.
As it happens, the tabernacle from the original chapel was saved by the Carroll family, who donated it to the Sisters of Mercy in Baltimore where it survives. Skilled Maryland craftsmen have been commissioned to create an exact replica for the reconstruction. Originally under the premier archiepiscopal See of Baltimore, the Brick Chapel is now within the bounds of the Archdiocese of Washington, but I have no idea whether or not it will be consecrated. An altar stone, believed to be the original, has been found and will be included in the chapel. How appropriate it would be to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the birthplace of the Church in America, praying that the slow resurgence of Catholicism we have seen in recent years will continue and augment with the grace of God.
Historic St. Mary’s City: Rebuilding the Brick Chapel of 1667 | Recreating the Chapel
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Thank you, Andrew for this excellent post. I know a Jesuit priest who grew up near St. Mary’s and who has brick from the original chapel that bore a handprint from the brickmaker.
I visited the restored St. Marie’s City for a Grand Militia Muster quite some time ago. It was a very colorful and enjoyable time.
The Battle of the Severn mentioned in your post took place in what was then known as “Providence,” but which eventually became Annapolis. In fact, Horn Point now is part of the U.S. Naval Academy. Lots of history in that magnificent place “where the River meets the Bay.”
Lovely post, Andrew.
I visited the site about three weeks ago. It will be a beautiful building when finished, but, from what they told me, it will not be a consecrated place of worship.
two points:
1.) Gov. William Stone’s men were routed at The Battle of The Great Severn. The defeated men were tricked imto believing that they would be given quarter and at least three of them, including Thomas Hatton and William Eltonhead were executed by the roundheads. The puritan womenfolk pleaded for mercy on the remaining captives and that was the only reason they were spared.
2.) The brick chapel will not be consecrated. Perhaps the reason is that it will be a main part of the living history museum, or perhaps the archdiose of Washington DC doesn’t see the need for it.
Keep digging, though. Great blog!!!
Oh my! You’re quite correct; I had misread the history I was reading. I have corrected it accordingly.
Thank you!
You are welcome. Great blog. Keep up the good work. My cousin graduated from St. Andrews a few years ago. That is how I came across your site. Keep up the good work!
I was doing a little research on the Battle of the Severn and, lo and behold, your website came up close to the top of Google’s search results. The internet is a very small world sometimes.
Hi Andrew
Beautiful Church, good construction wonderful images and its like dedication of work to build a church with love and peace to welcome the savior.
Hello, Good Morning
My name is Juan Soto I’m the one that found the Altar Stone that was sent to St. MARY’S CHURCH. I’m so glad that the stone will be included in the Chapel; thanks GOD that I found it, and finally will be at the church for ever. Please keep me inform I would like to visit with my family and see the Altar Stone again. May GOD Bless you all for rebuilding the Chapel.
Thank you.