Mill Creek Hundred in Hockessin in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

St. Mary's Church

Photographed by Stephen J Duncan, June 23, 2011

1. St. Mary's Church Marker

Inscription. Site of the first Catholic church in Delaware, Usually called "Coffee Run" Church. Land purchased 1772 by Rev. Matthias Manners. First church erected shortly thereafter. Last church erected by Rev. Patrick Kenny. Remained standing until 1908. Services discontinued in 1884 upon erection of churches at Hockessin and Ashland.

Erected 1933 by Historical Markers Commission. (Marker Number NC-32.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1772.

Location. 39° 46.132′ N, 75° 39.561′ W. Marker is in Hockessin, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Mill Creek Hundred. It is on Lancaster Pike (Delaware Route 48) 0.3 miles south of Loveville Rd, on the right when traveling south. The marker is sits at the entrance to the Coffee Run Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hockessin DE 19707, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: First Meeting House Marker (approx. 1.1 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Wooddale Bridge

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 1.2 miles away); Former Site of the Delcastle Prison Farm (approx. 1½ miles away); Site of General Weedon's Foray at Spring Grove (approx. 1.7 miles away); Brandywine Springs (approx. 1.8 miles away); Camp DuPont (approx. 1.8 miles away); Fells Mill Historic District (approx. 1.9 miles away).

Regarding St. Mary's Church. The church described is no longer standing. There is only the plot of land where the church stood.

Also see . . . Coffee Run (St. Mary's) Church. (Submitted on April 10, 2013, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware.)

Plot of Land Where Church Stood image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Stephen J Duncan, June 23, 2011

2. Plot of Land Where Church Stood

This is the plot of land where the church once stood.

Coffee Run Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Stephen J Duncan, June 23, 2011

3. Coffee Run Cemetery

This is the entrance to the Coffee Run Cemetery, which is adjacent to where the church stood.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 23, 2011, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware. This page has been viewed 1,179 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2011, by Stephen J Duncan of Wilmington, Delaware. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.