Page 127 - WILMINGTON

Saint miChael
1964
SAINT MICHAELS
Catholicism came slowly to St Michaels Saints Peter and Paul Parish located in in in Easton serves all of Talbot County including St Michaels and and extends westward to embrace Tilghman Island IIn 1964
the the the the the the the the Catholics Catholics of of of St St Michaels Michaels and the the the the the the the the adjacent areas held their rst Mass in the the the loft of of the the the St Michaels Firehouse This Mass was attended by thirteen Catholics—the nucleus around which grew
the the ambition to build the the chapel For four years Mass celebrated by the priests of Saints Peter and Paul was held weekly in in the upstairs room of the old Firehouse Without a doubt this 5:30 p m m m m Mass under a a a a tin roof on a a a a humid summer day was true penance—for priest and parishioners alike The membership grew
By early 1965 attendance in the winter months averaged 70 people and virtually doubled during the summertime Finally a a a small group of dedicated people decided a a a a Catholic chapel in St Michaels was necessary However interest increased enthusiasm spread and an an ecumenical spirit developed from which a a a a a beautiful project materialized and ourished While thoughts of a a chapel were still in the development stage donations started to arrive Among the earliest and perhaps the rst was a a a a gift of $5 000 from a a a a non-Catholic friend in memory of his wife And the Maryland-Virginia Realty Company had offered three acres on on Lincoln Avenue to any denomination willing to build a a a church In March of 1965 committees were formed and fundraising plans were drawn up By that August the total collected exceeded $12 000 While this sum was far from the total needed it was enough to obtain building estimates During the next three years no fund raising activity was too demeaning or demanding Mr John N Walton an architect from Riverdale Maryland offered his services to ful ll a a a promise made earlier in in his life As a a a a young striving architect Mr Walton had donated his services to to a a a a priest whose church had burned down His business grew
rapidly and he he promised God that in in thanksgiving he he would give his time and talent gratis to any mission church in need The land the the money the the architect essential components for the chapel were now available To allow for possible future expansion three additional adjoining acres were purchased On December 13 1966 the John J J Raskob Foundation for Catholic Charities granted $50 000 to the building project 125
The Chapel at On April 24 1968 ground was broken for the St Michael chapel and completion was planned for January 1969 a a a a nal cost of $186 000 was debt-free when dedicated On April 20 1969 the Most Reverend Thomas Mardaga sixth Bishop of Wilmington dedicated the the chapel Year round the the beautiful colonial building provides a a a a place of worship for several hundred families and and hundreds of summer visitors It stands as a a a a a monument to to the vision and enduring determination of of a a a a small group of of people who made their dream a a a a reality