“From the Archives” – Saint Ignatius, The First Mission

Until 1859, Saint Mary was a parish in two states. The Potomac River served as the highway in those days, before fine, paved roads were available. Residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland, regularly crossed the river via the Alexandria Ferry to transact business, socialize and attend church. Saint Mary’s records contain numerous accounts of its priests crossing the river at all hours, to administer the sacraments to Catholics living in Maryland. One account tells of the priest going late at night to baptize a dying man who wished to convert.

To better serve those Marylanders, in 1849 Saint Ignatius Church was established in Oxon Hill as Saint Mary’s first mission. Father Joseph M. Finotti, S.J., became pastor of both Saint Mary and Saint Ignatius. The first church building, a plain wooden structure seating 100 persons, was soon erected. Christine Spaulding Edelen, wife of a Major Edelen, and Mary Surratt (who was convicted and hung as part of the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln!), were among local parishioners there who rode around the area on horseback, soliciting donations for the new church. Land for it was donated by Major Edelen and another, Episcopalian gentleman.

Shortly before the Civil War began, the little church was turned over to the Archdiocese of BaltimoreWashington. The original church was replaced in 1890 by the present building, a Queen Anne-style building with a high steeple. In 2019, it became the parish church of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, an Anglican-rite diocese within the Roman Catholic Church.

— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian