St. Joseph on the Brandywine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Joseph on the Brandywine
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St. Joseph on the Brandywine, August 2010
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10 Old Church Road, Greenville, Delaware |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1841, 1848, 1878, 1941 and 1950 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000572 |
| Added to NRHP | November 07, 1976 |
St. Joseph on the Brandywine is a very old and important Roman Catholic church in Greenville, Delaware. It is also a historic district, which means the whole area around the church is special and protected.
The church campus has four church buildings and a large cemetery. The main church building is made of stone, painted yellow, and has a tall steeple. There are also other buildings like a rectory (where priests live), a convent (where nuns live), and a building that used to be a school. The school first opened in 1853.
Contents
History of St. Joseph's Church
Even though many Catholic people lived in the Wilmington area since 1813, they didn't have their own church building for a long time. Priests would travel to hold church services in people's homes or at local factories.
How the Church Was Built
In the late 1830s, Irish factory workers started asking the church leaders in Philadelphia for their own church. The du Pont family, who owned many factories, helped a lot. They gave money and supported the idea of building a church.
The first St. Joseph's Church was built in February 1841. The du Pont family built it for the Irish and Italian Catholic workers at their company, C.I.DuPont de Nemours & Co. Charles I. du Pont gave the land for the church. He also helped manage the church with other important people like Alfred du Pont and Henry du Pont.
The church was officially opened in December 1842 by Francis Kenrick, who was the Bishop of Philadelphia.
Growing and Changing Over Time
In 1848, the church building was made bigger to fit 550 people. In 1853, a house on the church grounds burned down. Amelia du Pont helped rebuild it and turned it into a convent. She invited the Sisters of St. Joseph to live there and open a school.
The school started in the church basement. In 1855, it moved into its own building.
Challenges and New Beginnings
In 1866, the rectory building was destroyed by a fire. The school also closed for a while because the Sisters of St. Joseph were called back by the Archbishop of Philadelphia.
Later, the school reopened with the help of the Order of St. Francis nuns and other teachers. The nuns continued to run the school until 1972, when it closed permanently because fewer students were attending.
The church building itself has been changed and repaired many times over the years, in 1878, 1941, and 1950. Because of these changes, the church looks very different today from how it looked in 1841.
In 1976, St. Joseph on the Brandywine was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States. In 2016, the State of Delaware placed a special marker on the campus.
A Famous Parishioner
St. Joseph on the Brandywine is the home church for President Joseph Biden.
Notable People Buried Here
Many important people are buried in the cemetery at St. Joseph on the Brandywine.
- Joseph R. Biden III (1969-2015): He was the Attorney General of Delaware and the son of President Joe Biden.
- Naomi Christina "Amy" Biden (1971-1972): She was the daughter of President Joe Biden.
- Neilia Biden (1942-1972): She was the first wife of President Joe Biden.
- John McMahon (1867-1954): He was a professional baseball player.
- Joseph Walsh (1930-2014): He was a Justice on the Delaware Supreme Court.
- Margaret Gwenver (1926-2010): She was an actress who worked in theater and on TV soap operas.
Images for kids
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St. Joseph on the Brandywine, August 2010
