St. Michael, St. Michaels

In 1964, the Catholics of Saint Michaels and the adjacent areas held their first Mass in the loft of the Saint Michaels firehouse. This Mass was attended by 13 Catholics - the nucleus around which grew the ambition to build the chapel.

For four years, Mass, celebrated by the priests of Saints Peter and Paul, was held weekly in the upstairs room of the old Firehouse. Without a doubt, this 5:30 PM Mass under a tin roof on 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 small group of dedicated people decided a Catholic chapel in St. Michaels was necessary.

However, interest increased, enthusiasm spread and an ecumenical spirit developed, from which a beautiful project materialized and flourished. While thoughts of a chapel were still in the development stage, donations started to arrive. Among the earliest, and perhaps the first, was a gift of $5,000 from a non-Catholic friend in memory of his wife. And, the Maryland-Virginia Realty Company had offered three acres on Lincoln Avenue to any denomination willing to build 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 fulfill a promise made earlier in his life. As a young, striving architect, Mr. Walton had donated his services to a priest whose church had burned down. His business grew rapidly, and he promised God that in thanksgiving he would give his time and talent gratis to any mission church in need.

The land, the money, 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. Raskob Foundation for Catholic Charities granted $50,000 to the building project.

The Chapel, at a final cost of $186,000 was debt-free when dedicated. On April 24, 1968, ground was broken for the Saint Michael Chapel, and completion was planned for January 1969.

On April 20, 1969, the Most Reverend Thomas Mardaga, sixth Bishop of Wilmington, dedicated the chapel. Year round the beautiful colonial building provides a place of worship for several hundred families and hundreds of summer visitors. It stands as a monument to the vision and enduring determination of a small group of people who made their dream a reality.