St. Edmond, Rehoboth Beach

And so, in 1905, the Diocese of Wilmington purchased property in Rehoboth Beach for that purpose. The property, which ran the full length of the oceanfront block between Laurel Street and Brooklyn Avenue, was originally owned by the Rehoboth Beach Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Diocese established a rectory and a chapel on the property, with two large cottages for the Franciscan teaching and nursing order as a summer vacation retreat for the nuns. The small chapel was unable to accommodate all the Catholic worshipers who began swelling the Rehoboth Beach community in the summer. So, a new frame church, overlooking the ocean, was built. The church was named in honor of St. Agnes, the patron saint of the first mother superior of the order of St. Francis of Assisi. Bishop Monaghan celebrated the first Mass there in July 7, 1906.

Saint Agnes by the Sea was a mission to Saint John the Apostle Church in Milford. Services were predominantly celebrated during the summer months; Sunday Services during the winter depended upon the availability of a priest.

The early history of Saint Agnes by the Sea was influenced considerably by severe storms that battered Delaware's Atlantic Coast. After receiving some damage after a Nor'easter on December 7, 1914, the church was moved farther back from the beach and turned so that its front faced the beach and ocean. After another severe storm in April of 1918, the church was again moved further back from the oceanfront. During the Great Storm of March 1962, the old church suffered irreparable damage and was razed shortly thereafter.

Because of the increasing numbers of Catholics in the region, a new church Saint Edmond was begun in 1939 at King Charles Avenue and Laurel Street. The first Mass was Sunday, May 12, 1940, with its dedication on September 1, 1940. The Most Reverend Edmond Fitzmaurice, fourth Bishop of Wilmington and the one for whom the church was named, conducted the dedication service. Although Saint Edmond's took care of an increasing number of Catholics during the summer months, it was open only on Sundays during the winter months, with the priest in charge coming down from Milford. In 1952, Saint Edmond became a parish in its own right and was no longer a mission of Saint John the apostle. Monsignor Francis J. Desmond was the first pastor.

In 1954, Saint Edmond's built an elementary school on the property adjacent to the church. This school, staffed by Benedictine Nuns from Ridgely, Maryland, was opened with classes for grades 1 - 8. In 1969, the school was closed when the Benedictine community was obliged to withdraw first some and then all of the sisters.

During Monsignor Desmond's pastorate, three new missions were established: Saint Ann in Bethany Beach, Saint Michael the Archangel in Georgetown, and the Saint Jude the Apostle in Lewes. Saint Michael became a separate parish in 1957 with Saint Ann as its mission. Saint Ann became a parish in 1972. Saint Jude became a parish in November 2002.