Historical Marker St Mary's Church Site of first catholic church in Delaware, usually called "Coffee Run" Church, land purchased 1772 by Rev. Matthias Manners. First church erected shortly thereafter. Last church erected by Rev. Patrick Kenny, remained standing until 1908. Services discontinued in 1884 upon erection of churches at Hockessin and Ashland
Church web site Church history -- St. Peter's of New Castle 1804-1984, by Patricia Austin DiSabatino
Beginnings of the Catholic Church in Wilmington, Delaware by Donn Devine
Pioneer Catholic church nears 200th anniversary by Ann Morris Mertz
The history of St. Peters of New Castle began near Red Clay Creek in Hockessin. Catholics had come to northern Delaware from Maryland at the time of the revolution both for economic reasons and to escape the increasing religious intolerance. Although Maryland had been created as a Catholic haven, it became a colony with a dominant Protestant orientation after the "Glorious Revolution". As described by Devine, Jesuits from Bohemia Manor in Maryland bought the land now near Lancaster Pike and Loveville Rd in 1772. Masses were held there by traveling priests until 1804 when Father Patrick Kenny from Dublin took possession of the plantation from the tenant.
As noted by DiSabatino "One of Father Kenny's first ecumenical acts was to say Mass for the first time in New Castle in 1804. For several years thereafter, New Castle remained a preaching station with no resident pastor of its own. ... In 1806, New Castle was the political hub of Delaware and more important economically than Wilmington. A collection taken from the fledgling parish of St. Peter's in that year amounted to $6.25. The trustees decided that it was time to build a church. On April 15, 1806, a building site at Union and Harmony Streets was purchased for $350.00 from Samuel Rowan. This is the same land that is presently occupied by St. Peter's Church."
As noted by Mertz, the remarkable Father Kenny in his 40 years in Delaware
was instrumental in starting St. Peter's Church in Wilmington, St. Peter's Church in New Castle,
St Josephs on the Brandywine, an orphanage, a boarding school and a college,
traveled to mission stations in West Chester, Ivy Mills, Concord, Doe Run, Hagley Yard, Wilmington, New Castle, Londonderry and Philadelphia
and by farming the land to produce cash, was able to build frame church, barn, stone house and
outbuildings which survived at least til 2008 (although the farm buildings are slated for demolition).
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Sacred to
the memory of
The Revd PATRICK
KENNY born in the county at
Dublin Ireland and for nearly forty
years pastor of the church of
St. Peter Wilmington who died
on the 21st day of March 1840
aged 79 years
revered and regretted
RIP
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Coffee Run Cemetery enclosed by an iron fence was established in 1786 or earlier and is believed to have been the first Roman Catholic burial ground in the State. Within the enclosure, to the L. of the entrance is the Site of St. Mary's Church (Coffee Run Church), the first Roman Catholic CHurch in Delaware; it was a log structure which Father Kenny used also as living quarters before the completion of his stone rectory adjoining. With the church as his base, he attended five other missions in Delaware and nearby Pennsylvania, and almost unaided kept Catholicism alive in the region during that early period. After the erection of other churches the building decayed until it was finally razed in 1908. High weeds and bushes cover the site and nearly conceal the gravestones, some of which have fallen. Father Kenny's stone is a horizontal slab.
The Father Kenny House, a two-and-one-half
story dwelling of stone and frame bears a marble marker in the east
wing inscribed "P K 1812"
It was built by the Rev. Patrick Kenny (1761-1840),
born in Dublin Ireland, who came to America in 1804 and became a pioneer
Roman Catholic priest in Delaware.
NC-CHAP