St Francis Xavier's. "Though Southern Maryland is filled with historic sites, very few can boast that the original intent and purpose for their institution is still being carried out today in almost …More
St Francis Xavier's.
"Though Southern Maryland is filled with historic sites, very few can boast that the original intent and purpose for their institution is still being carried out today in almost the exact spot as it was nearly 375 years ago. St. Francis Xavier Church in Newtowne, MD., is one of those rare exceptions. Shortly after colonists had established a settlement in St. Mary's City, a group of Jesuit priests were invited by Clerk of the Court William Bretton, in 1640, to create a mission on 750-acres known as "Bretton's Out Letts" located on Newtowne Neck. The property was a fertile peninsula surrounded by Breton Bay, the Potomac River and St. Clements Bay. The priests lived in a manor house on the property while serving the local parishioners in the surrounding area. A wood framed church was completed in 1662. A cemetery, which is still located on the original site, was established alongside the church at that time. During the late 1600s and into the early 1700s, anti-Catholic sentiments were making their way from England to the colonies so the newly built church was abandoned and worship was quietly held in either the manor house or at the homes of parishioners. Though services never ceased in Newtowne, it wasn't safe to practice the Catholic faith publicly for many years and by then the old wooden structure was no longer a viable place to hold church so it was eventually abandoned. By 1731, a new chapel was constructed in a new location, closer to the original manor house. This new building was carefully constructed to not draw attention to itself as a "Catholic" structure. Its simplistic appearance, lack of a center aisle, and absence of a crucifix were intentional in the still religiously volatile colony".
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr
"Though Southern Maryland is filled with historic sites, very few can boast that the original intent and purpose for their institution is still being carried out today in almost the exact spot as it was nearly 375 years ago. St. Francis Xavier Church in Newtowne, MD., is one of those rare exceptions. Shortly after colonists had established a settlement in St. Mary's City, a group of Jesuit priests were invited by Clerk of the Court William Bretton, in 1640, to create a mission on 750-acres known as "Bretton's Out Letts" located on Newtowne Neck. The property was a fertile peninsula surrounded by Breton Bay, the Potomac River and St. Clements Bay. The priests lived in a manor house on the property while serving the local parishioners in the surrounding area. A wood framed church was completed in 1662. A cemetery, which is still located on the original site, was established alongside the church at that time. During the late 1600s and into the early 1700s, anti-Catholic sentiments were making their way from England to the colonies so the newly built church was abandoned and worship was quietly held in either the manor house or at the homes of parishioners. Though services never ceased in Newtowne, it wasn't safe to practice the Catholic faith publicly for many years and by then the old wooden structure was no longer a viable place to hold church so it was eventually abandoned. By 1731, a new chapel was constructed in a new location, closer to the original manor house. This new building was carefully constructed to not draw attention to itself as a "Catholic" structure. Its simplistic appearance, lack of a center aisle, and absence of a crucifix were intentional in the still religiously volatile colony".
Source: Lawrence OP on Flickr