History

There is no official Catholic colonial record to make research possible because of religious and political repression that existed. Historians have had to rely on private correspondence, diaries, court and civil records such as wills, marriage and land records to reconstruct our heritage. The most comprehensive publication of this type, "Catholic in Colonial Delmarva" was written by Fr. Thomas J. Peterman, previous Holy Cross pastor, who has a doctorate in American history from Catholic University. His scholarly research and painstaking determination is the basis of this summary.

It is the conclusion of church historians that Catholics have been present in Delaware since the Dutch took over colonial rule from the Swedes in 1655. In 1634, Jesuits Fr. Andrew White and John Altham had accompanied Cecil Calvert ( Lord Baltimore) and offered mass in St. Mary's county when Maryland was founded. However, in England, Henry VIII had required all citizens to take the Oath of Supremacy when he declared himself the head of the Church of' England. These laws excluded all Catholics from all aspects of public life, they were forbidden to hold church services or possess Catholic literature. This attitude was imitated in the Maryland colony: Lord Baltimore tried to ensure the religious freedom of Quaker, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Calvinist by passing the Toleration Act in 1649, but they were sadly revoked in 165'-} by the Puritan majority. Exiled Jesuits from Maryland often passed through New Amstel (New Castle) on their way to Philadelphia and ministered to the Catholics though we have no records to prove it.

In 1664, the English took over the Dutch colony under the Duke of York. He promptly took control, requiring no imposition of Anglican Church, but instead offered liberal religious terms. He eventually converted to Catholicism. William Penn, a Quaker, arrived in 1689 as Governor of Pennsylvania and the "Lower Three Counties" (Delaware) and offered much the same religious tolerance. With the establishment of Anti-Popery Law in Maryland, the conditions became so intolerable that many Catholic families migrated from the Eastern shore of Maryland to Delaware and Kent County. In 1697 when a Court House was built in Dover, records indicate that Catholics were being attended by Jesuits from Cecil County, Maryland.

The Anti-Popery Act of 1704 initiated by new Maryland Governor, John Seymour threatened Catholic priests with jail if they celebrated mass. However, Queen Anne intervened with an act that allowed Catholics thc right to private worship when she was petitioned by prominent Catholic landowners,. The Jesuits were compelled to distance themselves from the seat of government in St. Mary Couny and establish the first permanent Catholic Church at the head water of the Bohemia river in Cecil County adjacent to the Delaware border. The 1708 census by Governor Seymour revealed that there were more than 500 Catholic families scattered on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and along the Delaware coastline. Rev. Thomas Mansell and other Jesuits would make periodic visits to the Catholics in Kent County and Dover from "Old Bohemia" by horseback. Sacramental records from St. Joseph's Church Willings Allley, Philadelphia indicate that, Catholics from Kent County that shipped goods to Philadelphia, would avail themselves of' periodic mass and sacraments.

A letter written from Dover by a Rev. Thomas Bluett in 1722 to the Anglican Society for the Propagation of the Gospel attested to the presence of' Roman Catholics in the area. The town of Canterbury seven miles south of Dover was once known as Irish Hill due to the large number of' Irish Catholics.

In 1745, the Jesuit established a school for boys at Old Bohemia that was attended by Charles Carroll who signed the Declaration of Independence and his cousin, John Carroll, the first Catholic Bishop of America. The enrollment records also indicate that cousins, Matthew Lowber, Manassey Cain and Peter Lowber of Kent County attended the school. It is also recorded that Fr. Gailbrande ministered to these same families on a regular basis in Kent County.

In 1747, the Jesuits purchased 135 acres of land from the Lowber family just west of Willow Grove approximately 10 miles southwest of Dover. According to tradition, it is believed that a chapel and cemetery were established at Cavil Ridge. Fr. Joseph Mosley and Fr. Thomas Poulton ministered to the local Catholic families that included the Reynolds, Cains, Coopers, Smiths, Edwards, McWilliams, Ewens and Bells. The Jesuits sold the property back to the I,owber family after the American Revolution in 1785.

Formal Catholic worship on a monthly basis was reported by the Rev. Hugh Nell, Anglican Missionary; in a report to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 1751, presumably in private homes.

A common hatred of Catholicism remained extraordinarily strong in England and some of it's American Colonies during the 18th century because England was constantly at war with France and the Spanish Armada. Both Catholic countries had strong allegiance to the Pope, therefore, the loyalty of all Catholics in the colonies was frequently questioned. During the French and Indian War (17501756) and the Seven Year War rising hysteria prompted new assaults against the Catholics since French success was considered Catholic success. Catholics were often tormented and exposed to unusual scrutiny by the government. For Catholics in the English colonies, this was a bitter period that brought them to the edge of the American Revolution and liberation from official religious persecution.

As the American Revolution approached, the Catholics in Delaware rallied early to the cause of' independence. The burden of taxes from England and official religious persecution was too great. The American Oath of' Fidelity declared no allegiance or obedience to the King of England. Almost to a person, Catholic on Delmarva took the oath of the new states government. All of the Jesuits approved of the oath and took the oath themselves as an example to their followers. By contrast, the Anglican clergy generally remained loyal to the King and most of them sailed for England or other English colonies not in rebellion. Many Catholic patriots of Kent County joined the Continental Army including William Sherwood, Thomas Cain, Peter and Jonathan Lowber, their cousin, Daniel Lowber, William Allfree, James Murphy and Benjamin Donoho. They fought along side other famous Catholic patriots including' Admiral John Barry. Col. Stephan Moylan, Marquis Lafayette, Marshall Rochambeau, Gen Casmir Pulaski, Thaddeus Kusciusko, Baron DeKalb who gained General Washington's profound respect and gratitude. In the colonies, it had been customary to observe Pope Day" or "Guy Fawkes Day" with the burning of an effigy of the pope. General Washington issued an order on November 5, 1775 to his officers and soldiers that the celebration was devoid of common sense and that the ridiculous and childish custom be stopped." With the end of the Revolutionary War and election of George Washington as the First President, Catholics were euphoric over their new won freedom.

The Bill of Rights of 1791 made for favorable conditions for Catholics in Pennsylvania and Delaware. In 1808, tile Philadelphia Diocese was formed and Delaware came under its jurisdiction. Ironically, after 150 years of' religious repression was finally lifted, Catholics of' Kent County seemed to disappear in the early part of the 19th century. Due to a lack of priestly visits and intermarriage into the larger community, many Catholics adopted Methodism. In November 22, 1835, Bishop Francis Kenrick of Philadelphia confirmed 90 people at St. Peter's Cathedral in Wilmington. Prior to that, he spent one week traveling the entire length of Delaware seeking out Catholics. He recorded in his diary that he could not find but one Catholic in Laurel.

The Irish Potato Famine (1845-1850) caused a migration of two million people to America through 1855, many of who came to Kent County as farm laborers and to work on the Delaware railroad that was under construction. This created new opportunities for Catholics to worship.

In 1859-1866, Rev. Mathias Cobbin, Pastor' of St. Peter's in New Castle started coming by rail on a monthly basis and would perform christenings and marriages. His records are replete with the Irish names of Hartnett, Scanlon, O'Neil, MarkeI, Grady, Collins, Lane, Ahern, Lyons, Horn, McCaffery, McNally, Bradley; O'Donnell, Sullivan, McCluskey, Haley, O'Leary, Harrigan, Connor, Quinn, Madigan, Foley; Hearne, Finnegan, Taylor, Pierce, Fitzgerald, Connell, Riemer, Cunningham, Murphy, McGrath, McNierny, Dee, Reardon, Flinn, Collerty, Griffin, Farrick, Mason, Daley, Mahady Alford, Callwell, Halleran, Welsh, Phelan, Maloney, Fecrick, Mulshenock. Many of these families remain active in the parish today.

In December 1868, a Catholic Sunday school was organized in the Sons of Temperance Hall. The Catholic population of' Kent County prayed for priests to serve them more fully Fr. Ignatius Taylor was assigned to Holy Cross in May 1870 and laid the cornerstone for the new church November 9, 1870. Delaware was the only state in 1868 that did not have a Catholic church in its capital city. Bishop Becker gave Father Taylor the command to "raise high the Holy Cross in Dover for all to see", consequently the Parish was named Holy Cross. Father Taylor celebrated Mass once a month in the Old Academy building on the corner of South State Street and Elm Terrace, a short walk from the present church. Since there were only six secular priests in the Diocese of Wilmington, he was responsible for the lower part of the peninsula including Smyrna, Milford and Salisbury.

During the construction, a meeting of parishioners and Bishop Becker was held to attempt to find a means to liquidate a $12,000 debt. The creditors sent the sheriff to the meeting to serve a writ for a mechanic lien. Bishop Becker wrote in his memoirs that the meeting was pleasant enough, diversified by the entrance of the public sheriff with a writ from the Court..." On November 10, 1870, an acre of land was purchased at Clara and New Streets which was on the outskirts of town - for a cemetery site.