Priest Neal's Mass House and Mill Site
Encyclopedia
Priest Neal's Mass House and Mill Site, also known as Paradice, is a historic Roman Catholic Church
located at Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland
. It is a stuccoed, -story stone dwelling constructed about 1743 by Jesuits
for use as a mission before Roman Catholics obtained freedom of worship under the United States Constitution. The interior floor plan is unique in its combined function as Jesuit priests' residence and house of worship: an unusually wide center hall provided meeting space and was flanked by two chambers on the west and a large reception room on the east. On the banks of Deer Creek, is the site of an 18th-century mill which the priests used to generate money to support their endeavors. It is one of the oldest extant buildings associated with the Catholic Church in America.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1990.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
located at Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
. It is a stuccoed, -story stone dwelling constructed about 1743 by Jesuits
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
for use as a mission before Roman Catholics obtained freedom of worship under the United States Constitution. The interior floor plan is unique in its combined function as Jesuit priests' residence and house of worship: an unusually wide center hall provided meeting space and was flanked by two chambers on the west and a large reception room on the east. On the banks of Deer Creek, is the site of an 18th-century mill which the priests used to generate money to support their endeavors. It is one of the oldest extant buildings associated with the Catholic Church in America.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1990.
External links
- Priest Neal's Mass House and Mill Site, Harford County, including photo from 1976, at Maryland Historical Trust