St. Peter Claver Church
“The Church will have its glory in triumph in the colored race, and, for aught I know, be the salvation of this nation.” So stated the Rt. Reverend A.A. Curtis, Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware, in his dedication service for St. Peter Claver Church, on September 9, 1888. Founded by the Josephite Fathers, it was the first parish in the world dedicated to St. Peter Claver, the “Apostle of the Slaves,” who was canonized on January 15, 1888 by pope Leo XIII.
The parish, founded from St. Francis Xavier parish, was created to serve black Catholics in the western section of the city, and to provide training for students at St. Joseph Seminary. Father Charles Randolph Uncles, the first black priest trained and ordained in the U.S., practiced here as well as St. Mary’s Seminary.
Housed in the old Whatcoat Methodist Episcopal Church on Carlisle Street, the parish remodeled its building in 1905, retaining only a portion of the original structure.
St. Peter Claver himself was born in Verdue, Spain in 1580. As a member of the Society of Jesus, he sailed in 1610 to Cartagena, Colombia, where he worked for 44 years among slaves. Despite the horrible conditions within the slave ships, he entered them to feed, bathe, and doctor the slaves. He also taught and baptized them; by the time of his death he has
this page online
(Inscription under the image in the upper left)
St. Peter Claver Church, 1888.
(Inscription under the image in the upper right)
Father Uncles.
Democratic Women, Sponsor, St. Peter Claver Church, Sponsor, William Donald Schaefer, Mayor-Baltimore City Landmark
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion. A significant historical date for this entry is January 15, 1888.
Location. 39° 18.376′ N, 76° 38.314′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Sandtown-Winchester. Marker is on North Fremont Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1526 N Fremont Ave, Baltimore MD 21217, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. St. Katherine's Memorial Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Take a Stroll Down the Main Street of the African American Experience (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nurturing the Arts (approx. ¼ mile away); Diversity in a Segregated Community (approx. ¼ mile away); Thurgood Marshall House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Community Growth and Faith (approx. 0.3 miles away); Berea Temple of Seventh Day Adventists (approx. 0.3 miles away); Etting Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 270 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 12, 2017, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
