St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The St. Mary’s Chapel
Maryland’s First Brick Church
Photographed By Don Morfe, May 15, 1999
1. The St. Mary’s Chapel Marker
Inscription.
The St. Mary’s Chapel, built about 1667, was Maryland’s first major brick building. The structure was built in the form of a cross, 55 feet long and 57 feet wide at the arms of the cross. In frontier Maryland, where most settlers lived in humble wood cottages, this was a remarkable building. All that remains of the chapel is its massive brick foundation, measuring three feet wide and five feet deep.
There are hundreds of unmarked graves in and around the chapel. This site was cemetery for St. Mary’s City the earliest years of settlement. Many of Maryland’s founders lie here in long-forgotten graves. In 1990, three lead coffins were discovered buried in the left arm or transept of the cross-shaped building. These are the first 17th-century lead coffins found by archaeologist in North America.
The St. Mary’s Chapel, built about 1667, was Maryland’s first major brick building. The structure was built in the form of a cross, 55 feet long and 57 feet wide at the arms of the cross. In frontier Maryland, where most settlers lived in humble wood cottages, this was a remarkable building. All that remains of the chapel is its massive brick foundation, measuring three feet wide and five feet deep.
There are hundreds of unmarked graves in and around the chapel. This site was cemetery for St. Mary’s City the earliest years of settlement. Many of Maryland’s founders lie here in long-forgotten graves. In 1990, three lead coffins were discovered buried in the left arm or transept of the cross-shaped building. These are the first 17th-century lead coffins found by archaeologist in North America.
Location. 38° 11.234′ N, 76° 26.078′ W. Marker is in St. Mary's City, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. Marker is on Trinity Church Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Marys City MD 20686, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 482 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 29, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
