Old Town in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Saint Mary's Catholic Parish
by
Very Rev. Francis Jonatus Neale, S.J.
of Georgetown College
and
Prior to 1785, the Catholic community of Alexandria assisted at Holy Mass in a log building and later at the home of Colonel Fitzgerald.
The land for the original church at South Washington and Church Streets was donated of March 17, 1788 by Colonel Robert T. Hooe, a Protestant gentlemen.
The second church, in Chapel Alley, was acquired from the Methodist congregation in 1810.
The sanctuary and the major portion of the present church were erected in 1826 by the Rev. Joseph W. Fairclough.
Presented the 22nd day of June 1958 by Porto Caravan, Order of Alhambra.
Erected 1958 by Porto Caravan, Order of Alhambra.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is March 17, 1788.
Location. 38° 48.12′ N, 77° 2.642′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Old Town. It is on South Royal Street north of Wolfe Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 310 South Royal Street, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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 the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 15, 2014
2. Saint Mary's Catholic Parish Marker
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 9, 2025
4. Saint Mary's Catholic Parish Marker
This wide shot was taken before the Col. John Fitzgerald plaque was affixed to the brick wall.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 15, 2014
5. Saint Mary's Catholic Parish Marker
This is the former location of the marker.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 15, 2014
6. Saint Mary's Catholic Church
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 15, 2014
7. Saint Mary
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, March 15, 2014
8. Saint Mary
I am the Immaculate Conception
I am the Immaculate Conception
Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,253 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 9, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on March 16, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on March 23, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on February 9, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on March 16, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
