St. Vincent de Paul Church (Baltimore) facts for kids
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St. Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church
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| Location | 120 N. Front St., Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architect | Gildea, Father John Baptist |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002215 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 12, 1974 |
St. Vincent de Paul Church is an old and important Catholic church. It is located in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. This church has a long history. It has been a special place for many people over the years.
Contents
The Church's History
This church opened in 1841. It is the oldest Catholic church in Baltimore that has been used continuously since it opened.
How St. Vincent's Began
The story of St. Vincent's Church is closely linked to Baltimore's history. It was started in 1840 by Irish workers. These workers were building big projects like the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Father John Baptist Gildea was the first leader of the church. The church opened its doors to people in 1841.
Many Irish immigrants were part of the Catholic community here. But people from all walks of life attended. This included free people of color and even slaves. St. Vincent's was the fifth Catholic church built in Baltimore. It was made to serve the growing number of English-speaking Catholics in the area.
Growth and Changes Over Time
By 1865, about 2,000 people came to church each week. St. Vincent's was special because it welcomed everyone. This included free people of color and slaves. There are still marks on the floor in the back of the church. These show where a special area for slaves used to be. This area was removed during changes in the 1890s.
In 1875, Archbishop James Gibbons officially blessed the church. This was a very important event. It meant the church was under the direct care of the Pope. James Cardinal Gibbons (1834-1921) was a famous person who grew up in this parish. By the 1880s, St. Vincent's was the largest Catholic parish in Baltimore. It had over 7,000 members. In the 1890s, many new Italian immigrants moved into the neighborhood. The church was updated to reflect these changes.
Serving the Community
In the 1920s, fewer people were attending church. So, St. Vincent's started offering special services late on Saturday nights. These were for the pressmen who printed the Sunday newspapers. The Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore News offices were nearby. Soon, there were four such "Printers' Masses" each weekend. About 1,400 people attended these services. Many people who had been out late also came to these unique masses.
In the 1960s, the church became involved in movements against the Vietnam War. It also supported other social changes. This helped attract young activists to the church. The church and its members are proud of their diverse history. They have welcomed people from many different backgrounds and cultures. St. Vincent's is still an active church today. Father Raymond Chase is the current pastor.
The Church Building
The church building is designed in a neoclassical style. Its brick walls are painted white. This makes them look like wood. Inside, there are strong cast iron columns that help support the building. The inside of the church has been updated several times. However, the outside of the church has never been changed.
Keeping the Original Look
For over 180 years, people have worked hard to keep the church building in good shape. A big renovation of the inside was finished in 1991. This was just in time to celebrate the church's 150th birthday.
The church has a tall, slender Georgian-style brick tower. It is painted white and stands 150 feet high. The tower has an eight-sided base. Above that are three smaller sections. These are topped with a copper dome and a twelve-foot gold cross. The white tower of St. Vincent's is a well-known sight. It stands out in the historic Jonestown neighborhood of Baltimore. It is often seen with the nearby red brick Phoenix Shot Tower. The church also has stone details from the Jones Falls.
St. Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it is a very important historic site. A letter from the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation said: From November 7, 1841, until the present, St Vincent de Paul Church has been a major visual landmark in Baltimore. Its white tower loomed prominently in the 19th century skyline of that part of the city east of the Jones Falls known as “Old Town,” and as such was easily visible from the harbor by all the ships in that busy era. It was the sole survivor of the razing by the Urban Renewal Programs in the late 1950s, making it at the time even more visible in the middle of cleared land…[it] is one of the few surviving early Catholic parish churches remaining in this city.
Church Location
When the church was finished, the back of the building faced the Jones Falls. This was an open river at the time. The Jones Falls often flooded, which was a problem for the church. In 1911, the river was covered over and paved. This created the Jones Falls Expressway. Today, this road ends right in front of the church.
Community Help and Services
The church is very active in worship and helping others. It is open every day for Mass. It also has many programs to help the local community. These programs especially help people who are poor or homeless.
Helping the Homeless and Needy
- The church runs a monthly clothes closet for men.
- It has a weekly food pantry.
- It offers a Resource Exchange. This provides household items for people who have just found a new home.
- Every Friday, the church hosts a "Breaking Bread With the Hungry" dinner. Volunteers serve hot meals to homeless people. This is done in partnership with Our Lady of the Fields Catholic Church.
- The church owns a small park. Everyone is welcome there. This park is home to the Homeless Jesus statue. This bronze sculpture reminds people to care for "the least of these."
Education and Housing
The church also offers many religious education programs. These are for children, teenagers, and adults. They include classes, retreats, camps, workshops, and discussion groups. St. Vincent's is also involved in local housing projects. They help replace public housing with row homes for families. Their most recent project is on Pratt Street.
St. Vincent's helped develop the Heritage Walk, a Baltimore project. It is one of the stops on this historical tour. Besides helping local Baltimore communities, St. Vincent's also works with two sister parishes. One is in Nicaragua and the other is in Lithuania.
