“From the Archives” — How Saint Mary Church Almost Moved from Royal Street

By 1850, Saint Mary Church, originally a Methodist chapel purchased by the parish in 1826, had become too small for the growing membership. It also needed repairs and updating. Father George Villiger, S.J., a native of Switzerland and pastor from 1852-1854, dreamed of building a new church at the northwest corner of King and Royal Streets. Within two years, he raised $6,000 for the project—a large sum of money in those days. However, Father Villiger was transferred before his plan could be implemented. His successor (from 1854 to 1857) was Father John Blox, S.J., a Belgian native, who realized that changes must be made in the existing church and used the money raised by Father Villiger to cover most of the needed improvements. The firm of John T. Hill, a parishioner, was hired for the renovations, which cost $7,500.

For the first time the church was lighted with gas lamps instead of the old whale-oil lamps. The building was enlarged and two side galleries were added. Many other improvements were made, including construction of the tallest steeple in Old Town Alexandria. All of this was, ultimately, to the advantage of parishioners since parking near a potential new church on King and Royal Streets would have been impossible!

So Father Villiger’s dream for improving the church was realized, without leaving the original church building on Royal Street. The original corner- stone (noting the original church was “built” by Father J.W. Fairclough) can still be seen in the wall of the sanctuary near the sacristy door.