Old Saint Mary's Church

To your right stands Old St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, one of the oldest and most important Catholic churches in Philadelphia. Founded in 1763, it is generally considered the second Catholic church in the city, after Old St. Joseph’s Church, located just a short walk from here. Its importance grew in the early 19th century, when it became the first cathedral of the Diocese of Philadelphia. This new role led to major expansions, but also to tensions between parish leaders and bishops, reflecting the organizational challenges faced by American Catholicism at the time. Back then, the United States was largely Protestant, and Catholicism remained a minority, often viewed with suspicion. In several colonies, Catholics faced restrictions and were sometimes excluded from public office. This situation began to change during the American Revolution, and this church played a visible role in that shift. In 1779, it hosted the first public religious commemoration of the United States Declaration of Independence, attended by members of the Continental Congress. Figures such as George Washington and John Adams are also known to have visited. The presence of Protestant leaders in a Catholic church is often seen as a diplomatic gesture toward Catholic allies, especially France and Spain. Old St. Mary’s gradually became a symbol of religious tolerance in Pennsylvania. After independence, the Constitution helped establish religious freedom, allowing Catholicism to grow, particularly through immigration. The site also includes a historic cemetery, dating back to 1759, where several important figures of the early Republic are buried, including John Barry, often considered the father of the American Navy, and Thomas Fitzsimons.