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, January 2010
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | 600 E 6th Street, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19801 [6th and Pine Sts] |
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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 an old and important Catholic church in Wilmington. You can find it at 600 East Sixth Street. This church is special because it's the only active church in Delaware 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 were very important. They helped thousands of Irish immigrants who came to Wilmington. The church was a place for them to worship, learn, and become part of the community. In 1976, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special building worth protecting.
Contents
The Church's History
How St. Mary's Began
The land for the church was bought in 1848 by Bishop Francis Kenrick. At that time, the Wilmington area was part of the Diocese of Philadelphia. Bishop John Nepomucene Neumann of Philadelphia officially opened the church on October 31, 1858.
Later, a new Catholic area was created on March 3, 1868. It was called the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. This new area included all of Delaware, plus parts of Maryland and Virginia. Patrick Reilly was the first priest in charge of St. Mary's parish.
The Church Building
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. Two towers are at the corners and have round, onion-shaped domes with crosses on top.
The middle tower was built in 1881. It is now used as a bell tower and has arched openings for the bells. The original wooden bell tower and a smaller dome on the center tower were destroyed by fire in March 1966. They were replaced with the current dome.
St. Mary's School and Name Change
The Catholic school, St. Mary's, was built next to the church in 1866. When the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington started in 1868, St. Mary's parish became part of it.
The church was first officially named "St. Mary’s Catholic Church" in 1877. Later, in 1894, its name was changed. It became "Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception."
Honoring Bishop Neumann
Bishop Neumann, who founded the church, became a saint! He was recognized as "Blessed" on October 13, 1963. Then, he was made a saint on June 19, 1977, by Pope Paul VI.
To celebrate this, the church got a life-sized statue of the new saint. It was made by a famous local artist named Charles Parks. Today, St. Mary's is still a welcoming place for people of all backgrounds in the city.
