A
Look Back
Pastors of Holy Cross
Rev Edward Ignatius Taylor 1870-1879 born in England in 1829. Initially, he studied
medicine but subsequently became an Episcopal Minister. He converted to Catholicism 1850,
came to America in 1865, and was ordained as a Secular Priest in Mobile, Alabama May 1868.
He was assigned by Bishop Thomas Becker as Pastor of Dover with missions in Smyrna,
Milford, and Salisbury in 1870. On Nov. 9, 1870, Bishop Becker assisted by Fr. Taylor laid
the cornerstone for the church on Bradford St., and purchased property for a new cemetery.
In the fall, 1879 Fr. Taylor was transferred to St. Peter's Cathedral where he became an
Assistant to Bishop Becker. Fr. Taylor was well versed in Philosophy, Theology, French,
German, and music, and he published several ascetical works. Fr. Taylor had always wished
to enter a religious order and with Bishop Becker's approval, he entered the Benedictine
order in Latrobe, PA April, 1882, but died of a stroke on Dec. 7, 1882 making the
profession of his vows on his deathbed.
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There is no official Catholic
colonial record to make research possible because of religious and political repression
that existed. Historians have had to rely on private correspondence, diaries, court and
civil records such as wills, marriage and land records to reconstruct our heritage. The
most comprehensive publication of this type, "Catholic in Colonial Delmarva" was
written by Fr. Thomas J. Peterman, previous Holy Cross pastor, who has a doctorate in
American history from Catholic University. His scholarly research and painstaking determination is the basis of this summary. It is the conclusion of church historians that Catholics have been present in Delaware
since the Dutch took over colonial rule from the Swedes in 1655. In 1634, Jesuits Fr.
Andrew White and John Altham had accompanied Cecil Calvert ( Lord Baltimore) and offered
mass in St. Mary's county when Maryland was founded. However, in England, Henry VIII had
required all citizens to take the Oath of Supremacy when he declared himself the head of
the Church of' England. These laws excluded all Catholics from all aspects of public life,
they were forbidden to hold church services or possess Catholic literature. This attitude
was imitated in the Maryland colony: Lord Baltimore tried to ensure the religious freedom
of Quaker, Presbyterian, Catholic, and Calvinist by passing the Toleration Act in 1649,
but they were sadly revoked in 165'-} by the Puritan majority. Exiled Jesuits from
Maryland often passed through New Amstel (New Castle) on their way to Philadelphia and
ministered to the Catholics though we have no records to prove it.
In 1664, the English took over the Dutch colony under the Duke of York. He promptly
took control, requiring no imposition of Anglican Church, but instead offered liberal
religious terms. He eventually converted to Catholicism. William Penn, a Quaker, arrived
in 1689 as Governor of Pennsylvania and the "Lower Three Counties" (Delaware)
and offered much the same religious tolerance. With the establishment of Anti-Popery Law
in Maryland, the conditions became so intolerable that many Catholic families migrated
from the Eastern shore of Maryland to Delaware and Kent County. In 1697 when a Court House
was built in Dover, records indicate that Catholics were being attended by Jesuits from
Cecil County, Maryland.
The Anti-Popery Act of 1704 initiated by new Maryland Governor, John Seymour
threatened Catholic priests with jail if they celebrated mass. However, Queen Anne
intervened with an act that allowed Catholics thc right to private worship when she was
petitioned by prominent Catholic landowners,. The Jesuits were compelled to distance
themselves from the seat of government in St. Mary Couny and establish the first permanent
Catholic Church at the head water of the Bohemia river in Cecil County adjacent to the
Delaware border. The 1708 census by Governor Seymour revealed that there were more than
500 Catholic families scattered on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and along the Delaware
coastline. Rev. Thomas Mansell and other Jesuits would make periodic visits to the
Catholics in Kent County and Dover from "Old Bohemia" by horseback. Sacramental
records from St. Joseph's Church Willings Allley, Philadelphia indicate that, Catholics
from Kent County that shipped goods to Philadelphia, would avail themselves of' periodic
mass and sacraments.
A letter written from Dover by a Rev. Thomas Bluett in 1722 to the Anglican Society
for the Propagation of the Gospel attested to the presence of' Roman Catholics in the
area. The town of Canterbury seven miles south of Dover was once known as Irish Hill due
to the large number of' Irish Catholics.
In 1745, the Jesuit established a school for boys at Old Bohemia that was attended by
Charles Carroll who signed the Declaration of Independence and his cousin, John Carroll,
the first Catholic Bishop of America. The enrollment records also indicate that cousins,
Matthew Lowber, Manassey Cain and Peter Lowber of Kent County attended the school. It is
also recorded that Fr. Gailbrande ministered to these same families on a regular basis in
Kent County.
In 1747, the Jesuits purchased 135 acres of land from the Lowber family just west of
Willow Grove approximately 10 miles southwest of Dover. According to tradition, it is
believed that a chapel and cemetery were established at Cavil Ridge. Fr. Joseph Mosley and
Fr. Thomas Poulton ministered to the local Catholic families that included the Reynolds,
Cains, Coopers, Smiths, Edwards, McWilliams, Ewens and Bells. The Jesuits sold the
property back to the I,owber family after the American Revolution in 1785.
Formal Catholic worship on a monthly basis was reported by the Rev. Hugh Nell,
Anglican Missionary; in a report to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 1751,
presumably in private homes.
A common hatred of Catholicism remained extraordinarily strong in England and some of
it's American Colonies during the 18th century because England was constantly at war with
France and the Spanish Armada. Both Catholic countries had strong allegiance to the Pope,
therefore, the loyalty of all Catholics in the colonies was frequently questioned. During
the French and Indian War (17501756) and the Seven Year War rising hysteria prompted new
assaults against the Catholics since French success was considered Catholic success.
Catholics were often tormented and exposed to unusual scrutiny by the government. For
Catholics in the English colonies, this was a bitter period that brought them to the edge
of the American Revolution and liberation from official religious persecution.
As the American Revolution approached, the Catholics in Delaware rallied early to the
cause of' independence. The burden of taxes from England and official religious
persecution was too great. The American Oath of' Fidelity declared no allegiance or
obedience to the King of England. Almost to a person, Catholic on Delmarva took the oath
of the new states government. All of the Jesuits approved of the oath and took the oath
themselves as an example to their followers. By contrast, the Anglican clergy generally
remained loyal to the King and most of them sailed for England or other English colonies
not in rebellion. Many Catholic patriots of Kent County joined the Continental Army
including William Sherwood, Thomas Cain, Peter and Jonathan Lowber, their cousin, Daniel
Lowber, William Allfree, James Murphy and Benjamin Donoho. They fought along side other
famous Catholic patriots including' Admiral John Barry. Col. Stephan Moylan, Marquis
Lafayette, Marshall Rochambeau, Gen Casmir Pulaski, Thaddeus Kusciusko, Baron DeKalb who
gained General Washington's profound respect and gratitude. In the colonies, it had been
customary to observe Pope Day" or "Guy Fawkes Day" with the burning of an
effigy of the pope. General Washington issued an order on November 5, 1775 to his officers
and soldiers that the celebration was devoid of common sense and that the ridiculous and
childish custom be stopped." With the end of the Revolutionary War and election of
George Washington as the First President, Catholics were euphoric over their new won
freedom.
The Bill of Rights of 1791 made for favorable conditions for Catholics in Pennsylvania
and Delaware. In 1808, tile Philadelphia Diocese was formed and Delaware came under its
jurisdiction. Ironically, after 150 years of' religious repression was finally lifted,
Catholics of' Kent County seemed to disappear in the early part of the 19th century. Due
to a lack of priestly visits and intermarriage into the larger community, many Catholics
adopted Methodism. In November 22, 1835, Bishop Francis Kenrick of Philadelphia confirmed
90 people at St. Peter's Cathedral in Wilmington. Prior to that, he spent one week
traveling the entire length of Delaware seeking out Catholics. He recorded in his diary
that he could not find but one Catholic in Laurel.
The Irish Potato Famine (1845-1850) caused a migration of two million people to
America through 1855, many of who came to Kent County as farm laborers and to work on the
Delaware railroad that was under construction. This created new opportunities for
Catholics to worship.
In 1859-1866, Rev. Mathias Cobbin, Pastor' of St. Peter's in New Castle started coming
by rail on a monthly basis and would perform christenings and marriages. His records are
replete with the Irish names of Hartnett, Scanlon, O'Neil, MarkeI, Grady, Collins, Lane,
Ahern, Lyons, Horn, McCaffery, McNally, Bradley; O'Donnell, Sullivan, McCluskey, Haley,
O'Leary, Harrigan, Connor, Quinn, Madigan, Foley; Hearne, Finnegan, Taylor, Pierce,
Fitzgerald, Connell, Riemer, Cunningham, Murphy, McGrath, McNierny, Dee, Reardon, Flinn,
Collerty, Griffin, Farrick, Mason, Daley, Mahady Alford, Callwell, Halleran, Welsh,
Phelan, Maloney, Fecrick, Mulshenock. Many of these families remain active in the parish
today.
In December 1868, a Catholic Sunday school was organized in the Sons of Temperance
Hall. The Catholic population of' Kent County prayed for priests to serve them more fully
Fr. Ignatius Taylor was assigned to Holy Cross in May 1870 and laid the cornerstone for
the new church November 9, 1870. Delaware was the only state in 1868 that did not have a
Catholic church in its capital city. Bishop Becker gave Father Taylor the command to
"raise high the Holy Cross in Dover for all to see", consequently the Parish was
named Holy Cross. Father Taylor celebrated Mass once a month in the Old Academy building
on the corner of South State Street and Elm Terrace, a short walk from the present church.
Since there were only six secular priests in the Diocese of Wilmington, he was responsible
for the lower part of the peninsula including Smyrna, Milford and Salisbury.
During the construction, a meeting of parishioners and Bishop Becker was held to
attempt to find a means to liquidate a $12,000 debt. The creditors sent the sheriff to the
meeting to serve a writ for a mechanic lien. Bishop Becker wrote in his memoirs that the
meeting was pleasant enough, diversified by the entrance of the public sheriff with a writ
from the Court..." On November 10, 1870, an acre of land was purchased at Clara and
New Streets which was on the outskirts of town - for a cemetery site. |
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