St. Peter the Apostle Church
Encyclopedia
St. Peter the Apostle Church is a Roman Catholic church located at the corner of Hollins and Poppleton Streets in Baltimore
, Maryland
. It is often referred to as "The Mother Church of West Baltimore." The church was built in 1842 to minister to the growing Irish population
of West Baltimore, who had immigrated to the city in vast numbers to work for the B&O Railroad.
, a prominent "ecumenical architect," designed the church in the Greek revival
style with imposing granite pillars gracing the facade of the building. Its appearance is similar to the Lloyd Street Synagogue
, also designed by Long. The design was based on Athens' Temple of Hephaestus
. The interior of the church features a large, open nave
furnished with wooden pews. Behind the altar, an apse
adorned with white columns is punctuated with an imposing white marble tabernacle
. It contains statues of angels and the holy family
, and is topped with a large statue of Saint Peter
. The inscription above the tabernacle reads, "Tu Es Petrus
," a reference to the biblical passage, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Matt. 16:18). The church also has a historic tracker organ designed by Henry Niemann.
The church itself is part of a complex of several buildings, including a church rectory, a convent, and a school. The Sisters of Mercy
came to the church in 1855 to teach at St. Peter School. In addition to their educational duties, the sisters also assisted the poor and sick of the community by opening the "House of Mercy for distressed women."
In 1868, the building received its first renovation, and was graced with stained glass windows imported from Munich.
Another renovation, done in 1967, brought the church to the attention of the Commission on Historical and Architectural Preservation. This attention led to the church being placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on October 14, 1976.
Throughout its history, St. Peter the Apostle Church has ministered to those in need, and has also been active in community organization efforts. In 1965, pastor Thomas J. Donellan formed the Southwest Baltimore Citizens Planning Council, along with four other area churches, to bring identity and renewal to their Hollins Park neighborhood. The former convent houses the Christian Life Center, which provides recreation and development programs.
Although declining numbers of parishioners and priests have limited the number of services that the church holds, St. Peter the Apostle Church continues to celebrate mass on weekdays at 8AM and on Saturdays at 7PM. The final Ordinary Mass was said at St. Peter on, Saturday, January 26, 2008. The church is still open. However, it will only be used for weddings, funerals and special occasions. The churches of St. Martin, St. Peter, and St. Jerome merged and formed a new parish known as Transfiguration Catholic Community. All Masses are now held at the former St. Jerome parish located at Hamburg and Scott Sts.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It is often referred to as "The Mother Church of West Baltimore." The church was built in 1842 to minister to the growing Irish population
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
of West Baltimore, who had immigrated to the city in vast numbers to work for the B&O Railroad.
Overview
Robert Cary Long, Jr.Robert Cary Long, Jr.
Robert Cary Long, Jr. was a nineteenth century architect who practiced in Baltimore. His works in the city included St. Peter the Apostle Church, the Lloyd Street Synagogue, and the Baltimore American Building.-See also:*List of architects...
, a prominent "ecumenical architect," designed the church in the Greek revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style with imposing granite pillars gracing the facade of the building. Its appearance is similar to the Lloyd Street Synagogue
Lloyd Street Synagogue
The Lloyd Street Synagogue is an 1845, Greek Revival style synagogue building in Baltimore, Maryland. One of the oldest synagogues in the United States, Lloyd Street was the first synagogue building erected in Maryland and is the third oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States...
, also designed by Long. The design was based on Athens' Temple of Hephaestus
Temple of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus, also known as the Hephaisteion or earlier as the Theseion, is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple; it remains standing largely as built. It is a Doric peripteral temple, and is located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill....
. The interior of the church features a large, open nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
furnished with wooden pews. Behind the altar, an apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
adorned with white columns is punctuated with an imposing white marble tabernacle
Church tabernacle
A tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" . A less obvious container, set into the wall, is called an aumbry....
. It contains statues of angels and the holy family
Holy Family
The Holy Family consists of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph.The Feast of the Holy Family is a liturgical celebration in the Roman Catholic Church in honor of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his foster father, Saint Joseph, as a family...
, and is topped with a large statue of Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
. The inscription above the tabernacle reads, "Tu Es Petrus
Primacy of Simon Peter
Most Christians hold that Simon Peter was the most prominent of the Apostles, called the Prince of the Apostles and favored by Jesus of Nazareth. As such, it is argued that Peter held the first place of honor and authority...
," a reference to the biblical passage, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Matt. 16:18). The church also has a historic tracker organ designed by Henry Niemann.
The church itself is part of a complex of several buildings, including a church rectory, a convent, and a school. The Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
came to the church in 1855 to teach at St. Peter School. In addition to their educational duties, the sisters also assisted the poor and sick of the community by opening the "House of Mercy for distressed women."
In 1868, the building received its first renovation, and was graced with stained glass windows imported from Munich.
Another renovation, done in 1967, brought the church to the attention of the Commission on Historical and Architectural Preservation. This attention led to the church being placed 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...
on October 14, 1976.
Throughout its history, St. Peter the Apostle Church has ministered to those in need, and has also been active in community organization efforts. In 1965, pastor Thomas J. Donellan formed the Southwest Baltimore Citizens Planning Council, along with four other area churches, to bring identity and renewal to their Hollins Park neighborhood. The former convent houses the Christian Life Center, which provides recreation and development programs.
Although declining numbers of parishioners and priests have limited the number of services that the church holds, St. Peter the Apostle Church continues to celebrate mass on weekdays at 8AM and on Saturdays at 7PM. The final Ordinary Mass was said at St. Peter on, Saturday, January 26, 2008. The church is still open. However, it will only be used for weddings, funerals and special occasions. The churches of St. Martin, St. Peter, and St. Jerome merged and formed a new parish known as Transfiguration Catholic Community. All Masses are now held at the former St. Jerome parish located at Hamburg and Scott Sts.