Immaculate Conception, Marydel

Father Cotter was the Pastor of Saint Benedict in Ridgely and the Chaplain to the Benedictine Sisters. As the community grew it was necessary for Father Cotter to purchase property and build a church which was dedicated on Christmas day, 1918. Father Cotter served the parish for six years. In 1919, the Josephites, who were living in Clayton, were asked by Bishop Monaghan to take over the responsibility for Immaculate Conception. The Josephites served the parish for 17 years. During this time one young man from the parish became a Josephite priest, George Dahn.

Since 1936, Immaculate Conception has been served by diocesan priests. They began serving as the priests in charge of the church with additional duties as the chaplain to the Benedictine Sisters in Ridgely, who often served the parish as CCD teachers. In 1964, a priest was assigned as pastor. In 1958, a hall was built with three classrooms and a kitchen. The hall doubled as a temporary church, which was needed due to the number of people outgrowing the size of the church. In the 1960s, the property next to the hall was purchased for the rectory. In the 1980s, work was done to the church to double its size. Part of this project was the installation of the beautiful stained glass windows that now adorn the church and the addition of 11 classrooms for religious education. The Most Reverend Robert Mulvee, seventh Bishop of Wilmington re-consecrated the church on November 21, 1988.

In 1994, the Shultz Property across the street from the church was purchased it houses the current rectory and a beautiful pond and statue of Our Lady welcoming those driving on Crown Stone Road into Marydel. In the late 1990s, with a growing number of families from Guatemala moving into the area, the church began a vibrant Hispanic Ministry program. In 2013, Immaculate Conception and Holy Cross, in Dover, were linked.