St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church (Wilmington, Delaware) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church
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St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church in 2025
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | 600 E 6th Street Wilmington, Delaware 19801 |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | McCloskey, Charles |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000580 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a very old and important Catholic church in Wilmington, Delaware. You can find it at 600 East Sixth Street. This church is special because it's the only active church in Delaware that was started by John Neumann. He was a bishop who officially opened the church on October 31, 1858.
For many years, St. Mary's Church and its nearby school helped thousands of Irish immigrants. These new arrivals came to Wilmington and found a place to worship and learn. The church and school were very important for helping them settle into their new lives. Because of its rich history, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Contents
The Church's Story
Early Beginnings in Wilmington
The land for St. Mary's Church was bought in 1848. At that time, the Wilmington area was part of the Diocese of Philadelphia. Bishop Francis Kenrick made this important purchase.
On October 31, 1858, Bishop John Neumann officially opened the church. This event is called a "consecration." It means the church was set apart for sacred use.
Becoming Part of a New Diocese
Later, in 1868, the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was created. This new diocese included all of Delaware. It also covered parts of Maryland and Virginia. St. Mary's parish then became part of this new diocese. Patrick Reilly was the first pastor, or leader, of the church.
Building and Design of St. Mary's
The church building is made of brick with limestone details. It is about 100 feet long and 60 feet wide. The front of the church has three brick towers. The two towers on the corners are set at an angle. They have round, onion-shaped domes with crosses on top.
The center tower was built in 1881. It is square and has arched openings. This tower is now used as a belfry, which holds the church bells. The original wooden belfry and a smaller dome on this tower were destroyed by a fire in 1966. They were replaced with the current dome.
St. Mary's School and Community
The parochial school, St. Mary's, was built next to the church in 1866. This school was a key part of the community. It helped educate the children of the many immigrants who lived in the area.
In 1877, the church was first officially named "St. Mary's Catholic Church." Later, in 1894, its name was changed. It became "Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception."
Honoring Bishop John Neumann
Bishop John Neumann, who founded the church, was later recognized as a saint. He was "beatified" in 1963. This is the first step to becoming a saint. Then, he was "canonized" on June 19, 1977, by Pope Paul VI. This means he was officially declared a saint.
To celebrate his sainthood, the church got a life-sized statue of Saint John Neumann. A famous local artist named Charles Parks created this statue. Today, St. Mary's Church continues to be an important place of faith. It is a welcoming community for people of all backgrounds.
