Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown (1789)

Last updated on: November 18, 2010 at 5:22 am by Pat McNamara

Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown (1789) 2010-11-18T05:22:00-07:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

HOLY TRINITY, WASHINGTON D.C.—

This parish is one of the oldest in the archdiocese. The first pastor was Rev. Francis Neale, S.J., a brother of the second Archbishop of Baltimore, who in 1789 built the church, which has been called the cradle of Catholicism in the District of Columbia, in Georgetown. The church was not completed until 1792, and it is now known as Trinity School on N Street. During the early stages of the history of the parish, services were held in a building on the site of the present church, where all the Catholics of the country gathered to hear Mass. The property on which the church stands was secured in 1787 from John K. Threlkeld, one of the large landowners of the neighborhood, and the deed, which is still on file at Rockville, Md., transferring the property to Rev. John Carroll, states that the consideration was five shillings, so that the greater portion of the land was evidently a gift. At that time Father Neale was sometimes at his wits’ end to raise money; he even gave a lien on the rents of the pews to the builder, Alexander Doyle.

During the War the Federal Government used the church as a hospital, at which time the saintly Father Aloysius Rocoffort, S.J., did heroic work among the wounded. The parish has been in charge of the Jesuits from its foundation. In 1850 the cornerstone of a new church was laid, and the building was dedicated in 1851. The old church was torn down in the fall of 1913. In 1887 Father Kelly, S.J., was pastor, and in 1896, Father W. J. Scanlan, S.J., not only paid the debt, but installed electric light and steam heat. Rev. Edward Corbett was appointed to the pastorate in July, 1909. He was born in Boston, in August, 1863, entered in 1880 the Novitiate of the Society of Jesus at West Park on the Hudson, N.Y., received his classical education at Frederick, Md., made his course in the natural sciences, philosophy and theology at Woodstock, Md., and finished in Florissant, Mo. He taught at Washington, St. Francis Xavier’s N.Y., Worcester, Philadelphia, Jersey City, and was minister of Gonzaga College, Washington, D.C., and of Boston College, Boston, Mass., from which position he was transferred in July, 1909, to that of pastor of Holy Trinity Church. His assistants are: Rev. P. Brennan and Rev. Ed. J. Magrath.

The Catholic institutions in the parish are the Georgetown Convent of the Visitation, the Convent of the Good Shepherd, Holy Trinity Convent and the Georgetown University Hospital, all of which are attended from Holy Trinity. The parochial school for boys is in charge of 4 Sisters of Providence, and has 220 pupils, and that for girls, in charge of 4 Sisters of the Visitation, has 120 pupils. The Sunday-school has 450 pupils and 50 teachers.

The parish societies are: B.V.M., Sanctuary, Tabernacle, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Peter Claver’s Beneficial Society (for colored people), School Association, Bona Mors Confraternity, Apostleship of Prayer, and Holy Name. The Catholic population numbers 4000.

The Catholic Church in the United States (1914)

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 17, 2010

Quote of the Day

Next Post

November 19, 2010 A Monastery in the Bronx: Corpus Christi (1889)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who led a rebellion called "the men of Belial" against David near his end?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Amasa Adonijah Sheba son of Bichri Absalom