St. Thomas Manor
Encyclopedia
St. Thomas Manor is a historic home and church complex located near Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland
. It is a two story, seven-bay, brick structure of Georgian architecture
, of Flemish bond construction. Connected to the manor house stands a two-story brick wing that incorporates a former chapel built in 1798, now called St. Ignatius
Church. Outbuildings include a small, mid-19th century wood-frame slaves' quarter. A cemetery
lies to the west of the manor house and church. The manor house was built in 1741 as the headquarters of the Maryland Mission
of the Society of Jesus
. It served as the Superior's and later the Provincial's official residence.
Today, the manor house complex is recognized as the oldest Jesuit residence continuously occupied by that order in the world. The mission settlement of Chapel Point was started by Father Andrew White
, S.J., in 1641. He administered to the Potapoco Native Americans
, some of whom he converted to Catholicism
. Established in 1662, this is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic parish in what were the 13 English
-speaking colonies of North America
founded by Great Britain
.
In 1794 it was at St. Thomas Manor that John Carroll
was invested in his robes as the first Catholic bishop
of the United States of America, after the successful Revolutionary War
. (He later traveled to London
for official consecration
as a bishop by the Vicar Apostolic.) This investiture established St. Thomas as the first Roman Catholic see
in the United States. The mansion is the oldest surviving example of the Georgian style in Maryland.
During the years of slavery
and after the American Civil War
, when much of the South
classified people as only black or white, St. Ignatius was among the Catholic parishes that continued to record their Native congregational members as Indian, regardless of whether they were of mixed race. In colonial and United States records, by contrast, some Native Americans lost their identities through being classified as free people of color
, "colored" or white. Research in Catholic records has helped some tribes document their continuous history and gain state and federal recognition since the 20th century.
St. Thomas Manor was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1988. Due to its history and scenic waterfront setting, the manor grounds, church and cemetery attract visitors from distant places and are also a favorite rest-stop for many bicycle tour groups.
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
. It is a two story, seven-bay, brick structure of Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
, of Flemish bond construction. Connected to the manor house stands a two-story brick wing that incorporates a former chapel built in 1798, now called St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius
-People:* Ignatius of Antioch, third Patriarch of Antioch, considered a saint by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches*Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, considered a saint by the Roman Catholic Church...
Church. Outbuildings include a small, mid-19th century wood-frame slaves' quarter. A cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
lies to the west of the manor house and church. The manor house was built in 1741 as the headquarters of the Maryland Mission
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. It served as the Superior's and later the Provincial's official residence.
Today, the manor house complex is recognized as the oldest Jesuit residence continuously occupied by that order in the world. The mission settlement of Chapel Point was started by Father Andrew White
Andrew White (missionary)
Andrew White, S.J. was an English Jesuit missionary who was involved in the founding of the Maryland colony. He was a chronicler of the early colony, and his writings are a primary source on the land, the Native Americans of the area, and the Jesuit mission in North America...
, S.J., in 1641. He administered to the Potapoco Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, some of whom he converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
. Established in 1662, this is the oldest continuously active Roman Catholic parish in what were the 13 English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
-speaking colonies of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
founded by Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
In 1794 it was at St. Thomas Manor that John Carroll
John Carroll (bishop)
John Carroll, was the first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States — serving as the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is also known as the founder of Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, and St...
was invested in his robes as the first Catholic bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the United States of America, after the successful Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. (He later traveled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for official consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
as a bishop by the Vicar Apostolic.) This investiture established St. Thomas as the first Roman Catholic see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
in the United States. The mansion is the oldest surviving example of the Georgian style in Maryland.
During the years of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
and after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, when much of the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
classified people as only black or white, St. Ignatius was among the Catholic parishes that continued to record their Native congregational members as Indian, regardless of whether they were of mixed race. In colonial and United States records, by contrast, some Native Americans lost their identities through being classified as free people of color
Free people of color
A free person of color in the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, is a person of full or partial African descent who was not enslaved...
, "colored" or white. Research in Catholic records has helped some tribes document their continuous history and gain state and federal recognition since the 20th century.
St. Thomas Manor was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1988. Due to its history and scenic waterfront setting, the manor grounds, church and cemetery attract visitors from distant places and are also a favorite rest-stop for many bicycle tour groups.