| 1817 |
The
first Mass in St. Mary's Church was
celebrated on Sunday, December 14, 1817. |
| 1819 |
Installation
of the choir loft brought to completion
the original plans of the church. The
cemetery was established next to the
church. |
| 1828 |
C&O
Canal construction brought many Irish
immigrants to the area. The cemetery
contains many unmarked graves of laborers
who died while building the Canal. |
| 1851 |
Many
improvements and changes were made to the
church. The old steeple at the back of
the church surmounting the living
quarters of the priest was demolished and
a roof was erected over the former
sacristy. The sanctuary today is located
in the portion of the building formerly
used as the sacristy and the present
steeple was erected near the front of the
church. The first rectory at St. Mary's
was built, and consisted of a combined
living room and dining room and kitchen
on the first floor, with the priest
quarters on the second floor. |
| 1853 |
Improvement
of the roads in the county led to the
decision of the pastor to purchase a
horse and buggy; this was the first
transportation vehicle ever used by a
priest in the county. Until this time the
priests had made their mission rounds by
foot or on horseback. |
| 1854 |
The
first Stations of the Cross were
installed in the church. These original
stations hung on both sides of the church
and they were colored pictures enclosed
in glass with white wooden frames, and
each measured twenty-two by sixteen
inches. Each station name was printed in
four languages, German, English, French
and Italian. |
| 1855 |
Sacrament
of Confirmation was administered to
forty-two boys and girls. |
| 1857 |
The
date of the earliest recorded First
Communion class was Sunday, August 2,
1857. |
| 1860 |
The
first fund raiser, a Strawberry Festival
was held at the Fair Grounds. |
| 1862 |
Civil
War soldiers in uniform attended daily Mass. |
| 1872 |
Land
was purchased near the church for the
founding of a school. |
| 1873 |
Extensive
renovations to the church included the
addition of a Sunday School room at the
northwest corner of the church. The
sacristy on the other rear corner of the
church was enlarged and remodeled. A new
altar was built and the stained glass
window above the front entrance of the
church was installed. Along the church
side of the cemetery a row of pine trees
was planted, one of which remains today
at the southwest corner of the church. |
| 1882 |
During
the celebration of Mass the church
chimney caught fire and the flames
quickly spread to an adjoining window
frame. But the fire was quickly
extinguished by parishioners. |
| 1884 |
First
recorded parish mission was held at St.
Mary's. |
| 1885 |
St.
Mary's Church was painted and the large
stained glass windows were installed; two
rooms and a hall were added to the
rectory and the cemetery grounds were
improved. Land was purchased on Baltimore
Road, about a mile from the church, for
the new St. Mary's Cemetery. |
| 1890 |
The
sanctuary was made smaller and the altar
rail, which formerly had run the entire
width of the church, was reduced to the
smaller area in front of the main altar
where it is today. Additional pews were
then installed at the front of the church
and the present arrangement of two
sections of pews was completed. The
confessional was moved from the sacristy
to the rear of the church and the choir
loft was reduced in size. A wooden frame
vestibule was added to the entrance. |
| 1898 |
A
stained glass window was installed above
the main altar, and a new baptismal font
was donated. |
| 1901 |
First
Midnight Mass was celebrated on Christmas
eve. |
| 1902 |
Installation
of a gas plant to provide lighting was a
welcome improvement over the old oil
lamps. |
| 1912 |
Installation
of a steam heating system replaced the
original coal stoves. |
| 1929 |
A new
altar with adoring angels on each side,
and statues of the Blessed Virgin and of
St. Joseph were contributed by the
parishioners. New stations of the cross
replaced those installed in 1854. |
| 1930 |
An
extensive renovation program was
undertaken which included extending the
choir loft to its present length, and
installation of new pews and electric
light fixtures. The turret grill work
surmounting the facade on the exterior
was removed, and the wooden vestibule was
replaced with one of brick. The beams
beneath the church were reinforced, and a
steam heating system was installed to
replace the hot air system. |
| 1936 |
Three
Masses were celebrated on Sunday: 7:00
a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. |
| 1938 |
His
Eminence Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, then
Apostolic Delegate, formally blessed the
new organ. |
| 1951 |
St.
Mary's Parish School was completed. |
| 1975 |
F.
Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda were
buried in the cemetery next to the
Church. |
| 1979 |
The
Church was rededicated and renamed Chapel
of our Lady. The original Church was
named to the United States National
Register of Historic Places. |
| 1981 |
The
roof was replaced and the steeple
restored. |
| 1982 |
The
Chapel of Our Lady was completely
refurbished. Interior walls were
plastered and painted, and the floors
were restored. The organ was cleaned and
tuned. |
| 1983 |
Our
Lady of China Pastoral Mission began
celebrating their Sunday liturgy in the
Chapel. |
| 1999 |
October - Memorial Mass of Dedication to honor
Monsignor Kostick and dedication of the new
altar. |
Details
of the restoration |
| 2000 |
The
Chapel of Our Lady was designated a Pilgrim Church of
the Millennium for the Jubilee Year 2000 by James
Cardinal Hickey, Archbishop of Washington. |
| |
 |
| |
Our Lady's
Chapel - Christmas |
| |
|
